Hassan: Review if bumiputera privileges work at 'inclusive' congress

 

A PKR MP has urged the upcoming Bumiputera Economic Congress 2024 (KEB 2024) to review if the bumiputera privileges under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution actually benefited the group.

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim questioned if the affirmative action policy has instead been hijacked and manipulated by some bumiputera elites.

“Has it truly helped the bumiputera economy or has it been seized, manipulated by a few bumiputera elites in the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak to enrich themselves, their families, close friends, and crony capitalists?” he asked in a statement today.

Article 153 of the Federal Constitution states that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is responsible for safeguarding the “special position” of the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak, including quotas for education, scholarships, public service positions, and licences and permits for business.

Of note, Article 153 also states that the king is responsible for safeguarding the “legitimate interests of other communities” in accordance with the article.

The article is often referred to as the bumiputera privileges, although the Federal Constitution, as Hassan notes, does not actually define what is a bumiputera, but rather only the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

The PKR lawmaker’s prod at Article 153 is in response to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stating that KEB 2024, despite having bumiputera in the title, would be an inclusive affair.

Scrutinising race-based policies

Hassan said the congress should not only review bumiputera privileges but also the notion of race-based policies.

“Is it time for the KEB, which is inclusive according to Anwar, to discuss and conclude that the issue of economic development of the people should not be resolved with race-based policies or the division of bumiputera or non-bumiputera, but based on class division of the people’s lives and needs?” Hassan asked.

“A few upper classes called the T10 group, for instance, consist of all races, both bumiputera and non-bumiputera. Some of them are ultra-rich or from the billionaire or multi-millionaire group.

“While the lower class B60 consists of all races. If we study the hardcore poor, then we know that there are not only poor bumiputera people but also many poor Indians and Orang Asli,” he added.

Therefore, he said that the focus of the KEB should be on the B60 class - which is the majority of the people who need support and economic assistance - if the congress wants to be honestly and earnestly inclusive.

He asserted that people from all races and religions need jobs with high incomes, cost of living that are not oppressive, good health services, quality education as well as a financial safety net for when they are old.

“So, a successful bumiputera economic congress will produce economically just policies for all people regardless of race, and of course, in the end, it will produce social justice for all.

“Economic and social justice across races will create the trust and confidence of the people that the current administration calls the unity government and its Madani philosophy is on the right track to create a united Malaysia,” he added.

KEB 2024 is scheduled to take place from Feb 29 to March 2.

Stay away from rhetoric

Anwar previously said the congress is expected to have cooperation and joint participation from the Chinese and Indian communities to help tackle  poverty in addition to discussing issues related to the bumiputera economy.

Hassan welcomed the prime minister’s inclusive approach but hoped that the congress would not discuss rhetorical matters.

“But rather (the KEB should) discuss substantive matters for the benefit of the bumiputera and non-bumiputera community as a whole.

“We hope that it will be the last Bumiputera Economic Congress. After this, we can organise the next economic congress with a new brand - Malaysian Citizens Economic Congress. Can this dream be achieved?” - Mkini