Before the new government rolls out the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says a thorough study is needed to establish why a large segment of the bumiputera community still struggles despite decades of economic and educational privileges.
As such, he called on the new Perikatan Nasional government to commission an independent review of the matter to ensure 12MP helps the “truly deserving and underprivileged” instead of “an elite few”.
This comes as he dismissed the government’s reasons for postponing the tabling of the new Malaysia Plan to early next year as “trivial” yesterday at the Dewan Rakyat.
It was initially slated to be tabled tomorrow (Aug 6), while Budget 2021 is postponed to year-end for reassessments to be carried out in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
During yesterday’s Parliament session, Anwar, the Port Dickson lawmaker, also questioned de facto Economy Minister Mustapa Mohamed on billions in leaked bumiputera shares and reserved land allegedly lost as a result of being handed to “certain irresponsible bumiputeras”.
“(The government must) guarantee a study will be conducted as forming (any) new committees will have no meaning if billions in shares (and land) lost are not identified,” he told the august House yesterday.
Building on this, Anwar, in a statement late yesterday, further questioned: “Who are the beneficiaries of bumiputera shares other than those allocated for bumiputera institutions? What is the status of Malay reserve land that has been sold and not replaced?”
“The government must urgently study its approach to help the bumiputera community in this country and do away with policies that only benefit an elite few.
“[...] Privileges that are meant to raise the economic well-being of the bumiputera have been used to only enrich the elite and therefore widened the income disparity between the rich and the poor.
“[...] In order for the 12th Malaysia Plan to help the truly deserving and underprivileged, I urge the government to commission an independent and thorough study on the true reasons why large segments of bumiputera continue to struggle despite economic and educational privileges that have been in place for decades,” his statement read.
The PKR chief added that government policies to enhance bumiputera and other ethnic minority participation in the economy and industry are better achieved through investment in capacity building, skills training and education.
Meanwhile, government-linked companies (GLCs) should be handed to “competent professionals” instead of those with “political affiliations” to be run.
Turning the tables
Mustapha, in response yesterday, claimed leaked shares were a “common” problem as “the reality is, when you issue shares, there will be those who sell”.
The minister then tried to turn the tables, telling Anwar that shares do not sell as well as they used to back in the days when the latter served as finance minister, a statement which solicited much table-thumping from government lawmakers in the Dewan.
“I was Port Dickson’s (Anwar’s) deputy once. Then, many shares were issued (and), they sold well within two or three days.
“(On the issue of replacing lost reserved bumiputera land), it has been the subject of study by many academics...we will try to address this,” Mustapha, who is Jeli MP, said.
Anwar was quick to point out that Mustapha had failed to address his point on billions of alleged leaked bumiputera shares.
Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, had also served as finance minister from 1991 to 1998 before his infamous falling out with then-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Meanwhile, on an earlier question by Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan on initiatives to be expected in the 12MP to strengthen bumiputera economic power, Mustapha said the plan was yet to be finalised.
“The government will continue previous policies that have been effective...focus will also be on efforts to increase bumiputera hold in commercial land and new fields such as high technology and digital.
“The government will so increase efforts to reduce poverty, regardless of race.”
The former Pakatan Harapan government, too, had promised to strengthening bumiputera economic standing and empower minorities.
In its midterm review of the 11MP in October 2018 due to the change in government, the then Harapan administration said it was to have focussed on the developing a united "Bangsa Malaysia" and reforming bumiputera empowerment.
These were to have been achieved via specific programmes for native Sabahans and Sarawakians and the Orang Asli in rural areas, as well as specific groups among the Indians and Chinese communities. - Mkini
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