Rural Development Minister Rina Mohd Harun today refuted the claims that Majlis Amanah Raya (Mara) was downsizing its employees or that the staff of its subsidiaries were not paid their salaries since the past few months.

She expressed disappointment over the spread of such rumours.

“Mara, including its subsidiaries, is operating as usual to implement policies and programmes that have been outlined […] all are intended to ensure that the agency continues to be empowered and thrives as the lead agency for socio-economic development of the bumiputera," she said in a statement today.

Rina said she is always open to and welcomes suggestions and views from all quarters to realise Mara’s goals.

"I have instructed the Mara Council and management to enhance their engagement to obtain suggestions and views from the various stakeholders," she added.

For 2020, Rina said Mara would focus on empowering its education institutions to produce human capital that meet the needs of the future workforce.

She said emphasis will also be on entrepreneurship and on empowering rural and bumiputera entrepreneurs.

Mara also plans to invest through its Endowment Fund and further strengthen investments, she added. - Bernama