Govt to standardise implementation of Bumiputera programmes, says Rafizi

 

Economy minister Rafizi Ramli said allocations for Bumiputera empowerment and education under Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera (Peneraju) would continue as usual. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking to standardise the implementation of Bumiputera programmes.

Economy minister Rafizi Ramli said RM300 million had been allocated for Bumiputera programmes next year, but the allocation had not been distributed to the agencies involved as the government was looking to develop a “Bumiputera action plan”.

“The allocations for Bumiputera empowerment and education under Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera (Peneraju) will continue as usual,” Rafizi said in his winding-up speech for the 2024 supply bill in the Dewan Rakyat.

Last month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Bumiputera agencies must revert to their core function to take care of the community as he believed the agencies were not being managed well despite the land, shares and facilities provided to them.

He said the agencies did not understand that their purpose was to take care of Bumiputeras instead of just focusing on their business interests.

In September, Anwar said efforts to empower Bumiputeras would shift from focussing on selected companies to programmes involving more entrepreneurs and small and medium-scale Bumiputera companies.

He said Bumiputera companies would continue to receive funding from the allocations given by the government to 16 Bumiputera agencies, including Mara, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Tekun Nasional, Ekuinas, Teraju and Permodalan Nasional Bhd.

When tabling the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) mid-term review at the Dewan Rakyat in September, Anwar said a Bumiputera economic congress set for January would help set a new direction and approach for Bumiputeras that would be more fair, equitable and inclusive. - FMT