Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today issued a clear warning to all parties not to create trouble over the New Economic Policy (NEP) figures.

He said those who were dissatisfied with the official figures, should ask for an explanation in the proper manner.

Abdullah said the government has no qualms in explaining the methodology used in calculating the bumiputera corporate equity ownership.

"Don't be cynical. Cynicism and accusations have no benefit. Want to ask for an explanation, ask properly.

"Why the need to be cynical when asking, why the need to make accusations when asking? That is not the right way," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Abdullah was asked to comment on Gerakan's call on the Economic Planning Unit to be transparent and reveal the methodology used to reach the figure of 18.9 percent bumiputera equity ownership.

Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik reportedly said there must be something wrong with the figures as there have been no improvements since the NEP was introduced in the 1970s to uplift the economic status of bumiputeras.

Amicable solutions

However, Abdullah said his words of caution were not directed to anybody in particular but to all quarters, including Malays who tried to stir up trouble over this issue.

If there are problems, they should be discussed properly in order to reach amicable solutions, he added.

"If there is an intention to cause trouble, see what will happen. If you want to ask, do it properly," he warned.

The NEP figures came under scrutiny when the Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute (Asli) said in its report that bumiputera equity ownership is around 45 percent, way above the 30 percent target set under the NEP.

This was disputed by various quarters and following intense criticism, Asli president Mirzan Mahathir said the study was flawed.

However, Dr Lim Teck Ghee, head of Asli's Centre for Public Policy Studies - which came out with the report - disagreed and resigned .