PM: Harapan not out to victimise bumiputera, just bad practices

KBN CONGRESS | Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today reassured that the government is not out to victimise bumiputera in the context of economic challenges ahead.

"We are not here to victimise our own race, our own people...," Mahathir said in his opening speech at the government's Future of Bumiputeras and the Nation Congress(KBN 2018) this morning.

"I hope this congress will be serious in efforts to improve the fate of bumiputera and the Malays.

"If it (the congress) is just limited to asking for handouts, then I believe that even though this government is willing to be defeated for not giving handouts, then that is okay," he told the over 2,000 participants gathered at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

At the same time, the prime minister stressed that the government will take steps to end practices which he believes have impeded the success of policies introduced under the New Economic Model.

This includes, he said, no longer making compromises with the practice of sub-contracting projects awarded to bumiputera companies. 

"If they 'sell' the contracts, it will be cancelled. I'm sorry.

"If you don't have the capabilities, then don't ask for it," he said, adding that the government will also introduce more measures to cut down on such practices.

'Selling contracts'

Mahathir earlier recalled how bumiputera contractors appointed to work on government projects to build computer laboratories were found to have sub-contracted the works to other companies.

"They 'sold' the contracts, and so finally, because those who bought the contracts paid a high price, the profit was not enough to cover their costs. 

"And in the end, to make a profit, they used substandard materials to build (the labs)... Before the labs could be used, there were already problems," he said.

"I am very sad and disappointed, as many who received the computer lab contracts were unsuccessful.

"But if we give contracts only to those who are capable, they will be the ones labelled as cronies."

Rather than merely relying on government handouts, the prime minister urged bumiputera to work hard and make full use of the opportunities provided.

The one-day congress organised by the Economic Affairs Ministry was also attended by his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, de facto Pakatan Harapan leader Anwar Ibrahim, Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, cabinet ministers, as well as various menteris besar. 

The Economic Affairs Ministry previously said that today's congress is part of its constructive engagement with bumiputera stakeholders, and will be the basic platform for the government's efforts to formulate a new empowerment agenda for the community. -Mkini