Statistics don’t show wealth disparity among Bumiputeras, govt told

Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently revealed that Bumiputera equity in the nation’s wealth stood at only 16%, well below the New Economic Policy’s target of 30%.

PETALING JAYA: The government has been urged to separate statistics on Bumiputera wealth by region in order to present an accurate picture of the economic situations of the different communities coming under the definition of “Bumiputera”.

Speaking to FMT, academic Madeline Berma and political activist Zainal Ajamain said they believed the wealth of the Bumiputeras was mostly held by Malays in Peninsular Malaysia.

“If you were to segregate statistics on Bumiputera wealth according to Bumiputeras on the peninsula, Sabah Bumiputeras and Sarawak Bumiputeras, you may find that the wealth is concentrated in Peninsular Malaysia,” said Madeline.

Recently, Dr Mahathir Mohamad revealed that Bumiputera equity in the nation’s wealth stood at only 16%, well below the New Economic Policy’s target of 30%.

Madeline said such statistics did not tell the story of inequalities within the Bumiputera community.

“You can’t just compare between Bumiputeras, Chinese and Indians because there is inequality even among the Bumiputeras.”

Madeline Berma.

She said the separation of statistics would help the government improve its planning of development budgets and its targeting of aid.

“Without specific data, how can we tell what the situation of Bumiputera minorities is? We cannot use the success of Malays to paper over the inadequacies faced by Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras.”

She said it was common knowledge that East Malaysian Bumiputeras were lagging behind their Peninsular Malaysian counterparts despite the government’s efforts over the years to narrow the gap.

Zainal said the bigger portion of Bumiputera equity was held by companies based on the peninsula and their shareholders were likely to be peninsular Malays.

Zainal Ajamain.

He also said the inequality of wealth distribution was apparent in the difference in the levels of infrastructure development between East and West Malaysia.

“When you help people, you have to help those who are most in need,” he said. “So when the government has allocations for Bumiputeras, these have first to go to Bumiputeras who need them the most.

“But how can you identify which Bumiputeras need the most help if the statistics don’t paint the real picture?”

He said the “big disparity” between Bumiputeras of the peninsula and those of East Malaysia would show if the statistics were separated.

“When you lump everything together, the disparity does not look so bad,” he added. - FMT