The backwardness of Malays can be attributed to three factors - decline in intellectual prowess, lack of knowledge and adapting to an outdated lifestyle, said Federal Territory Puteri Umno delegate Hazreena Mohd Hashim today.

She said this when debating Puteri Umno chief Noraini Ahmad's keynote address during the wing's general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

"The economists in Malaysia have honestly admitted that the achievement of the Malay race on the whole, is still backward in all aspects compared to other races.

"Among the reasons why the Malay social economy agenda is not outstanding and backward is because of the decline in intellectual prowess, lack of knowledge and adapting to a lifestyle which is outdated," she added.

She also said the Malays liked to be known as ' tuan ' (an honorific title akin to sir), and described their characteristics with the adage ' tangan dicuci makan disuap, rokok dicucuh, bantal disorong ' (have things done for them)

While conceding that it is not easy to conquer economic and social aspects, Hazreena nevertheless stressed that they should not be complacent.

According to her, it is challenging to be Malay entrepreneurs, but success can be reaped if there is determination.

"There is talk that the failure of Malay entrepreneurs as well as the Malay race itself is not caused by the lack of assistance from the government and lack of intelligence to run businesses. But because of their lack of knowledge about the opportunity and service facilities available," she said.

In his opening speech last night, Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak had stressed on generating, what he termed as 'Glocal' Malays, meaning the need for the local Malays to compete globally.

(Glocal is an abbreviation for global and local)

The Youth, Puteri and Wanita wings are held their annual assemblies today while the parent party will hold its meeting tomorrow.