Govt to review broad use of ‘Bumiputera’ category

 Economy minister Akmal Nasir says more detailed ethnic numbers could help the government better understand local needs.

Economy minister Akmal Nasir said statistics were dynamic and feedback from users could help determine how the classifications should be used. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

The government would look into the use of “Bumiputera” as a broad ethnic category covering Malays, Orang Asli and the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Economy minister Akmal Nasir said breaking down the category further could make the figures more useful when the government plans policies or aid for different communities.

“I will review this matter. Statistics are dynamic and feedback from users can help determine how the classifications should be used,” he said when winding up the debate on the Statistics Bill 2026.

He was responding to Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar), who asked why a statistics department report placed Malays and other indigenous communities in her constituency under one Bumiputera category.

She said separate figures were needed to understand the different needs of Malays and communities from Sabah and Sarawak living in Kapar.

Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas) claimed the broad Bumiputera category could lead to foreign workers or newly naturalised citizens being counted as Bumiputeras, potentially affecting benefits meant for Malays, Orang Asli and the indigenous people of the Bornean states.

Checks by FMT showed that the statistics department’s 2025 population estimates include a broad “Bumiputera” category, which is further broken down into “Malay” and “Other Bumiputera” subcategories. The other categories are “Chinese”, “Indians”, and “Others”.

The bill replaces and repeals the Statistics Act 1965, which has been in force for more than 60 years. It gives the department a wider role as the government’s main centre for collecting, combining and publishing official data, while also setting up a National Statistics Council.

Earlier, during debates, Siti Aminah Aching (BN-Beaufort) called for cost of living numbers to be published by district, especially in Sabah and Sarawak. She said costs in remote areas could not be fairly measured using state or national averages.

The bill was passed by a voice vote without amendments. - FMT