The Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin is calling for party members to be ready for the New Economic Model.

umno agm muhyiddin opening 191010 03 He said that while there will still be affirmative action under the NEM, there will be no more space for rent-seekers looking to make a quick buck.

"The affirmative action will continue under the NEM and the Economic Transformation Programme and it will continue to ensure that the Malays and that bumiputeras have a place in the plan to transform the country into a high-income nation.

"Umno will never look away from our fight to develop the Malay and bumiputera economy. Umno will not be apologetic in fighting for a fairer economic distribution for the Malays and bumiputeras," he said at his opening speech of the Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings annual general assembly at Kuala Lumpur this evening.

He also said that the new dynamics of affirmative action will be more needs-based than it is race-based.

"I want to stress that the new dimension of the affirmative action policies will truly be needs-based. Only those who truly qualify and need it will get help.

"At the same time, there will be vast economic opportunities for those who work hard. There will be no more room for rent-seekers looking to make a quick buck," he said.

umno agm muhyiddin opening 191010 02 The party leaders have been on the charm offensive on explaining the NEM down to the grassroots who worry that the newly-launched model to replace the New Economic Policy may erode Malay rights.

Aimed at liberalising the country's market, one of the changes to be brought forth by the NEM is to also revamp the affirmative action policies.

Since the plan was announced in March, it has drawn the ire of several Malay rights NGOs, which have expressed much fear that the NEM will erode the protection of the Malays as enshrined in the federal constitution.

‘Malays can no longer depend on political power'

Muhyiddin moved in to assure the delegates that the party, formed 64 years ago with a nationalistic objective will still continue to fight for Malay rights.

But at the same time, he said that Malays will have to overcome their own weaknesses to make it big in the globalised world.

61 umno general assembly 191010 logo "Moving forward, Malays will have to overcome their own weaknesses. While Umno will continue to fight for the special rights of the Malays and bumiputeras, they cannot depends on political assurance and the constitution to be developed," he said.

"The move to increase the awareness of how important education is should be increased among the Malays.

"It is only through education that the Malays can sharpen their minds and hone their skills in a increasingly competitive world. The culture of knowledge holds the key to the success of Malays today and the future," said Muhyiddin who is also the education minister.

The three wings will start their general assemblies tomorrow while the parent body will start their meet on Friday.