Decades of help but bumis still poor – Anwar urges review ahead of 12MP
Anwar Ibrahim said a thorough study is needed to establish why a large segment of the bumiputera community still struggles despite decades of economic and educational privileges before the 12th Malaysia Plan is rolled out.
As such, the opposition leader urged the new Perikatan Nasional government to commission an independent review to ensure 12MP helps the “truly deserving and underprivileged” instead of “an elite few”...
Anwar Ibrahim said a thorough study is needed to establish why a large segment of the bumiputera community still struggles despite decades of economic and educational privileges before the 12th Malaysia Plan is rolled out.
As such, the opposition leader urged the new Perikatan Nasional government to commission an independent review to ensure 12MP helps the “truly deserving and underprivileged” instead of “an elite few”.
The government has postponed the new Malaysia Plan, which was slated to be tabled tomorrow while Budget 2021 is postponed to the year-end, for reassessments to be carried out in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
During yesterday’s Parliament session, Anwar questioned de facto Economy Minister Mustapa Mohamed on the billions in leaked bumiputera shares and reserved land allegedly lost as a result of being handed to “certain irresponsible bumiputeras”.
“(The government must) guarantee a study will be conducted as forming (any) new committees will have no meaning if billions in shares (and land) lost are not identified,” said the Port Dickson MP.
Building on this, Anwar, in a statement late yesterday, further questioned: “Who are the beneficiaries of bumiputera shares other than those allocated for bumiputera institutions? What is the status of Malay reserve land that has been sold and not replaced?”
“The government must urgently study its approach to help the bumiputera community in this country and do away with policies that only benefit an elite few.
“[...] Privileges that are meant to raise the economic well-being of the bumiputera have been used to only enrich the elite and therefore widened the income disparity between the rich and the poor.
“[...] In order for the 12th Malaysia Plan to help the truly deserving and underprivileged, I urge the government to commission an independent and thorough study on the true reasons why large segments of bumiputera continue to struggle despite economic and educational privileges that have been in place for decades,” he said.
The PKR president said that government policies to enhance bumiputera and other ethnic minority participation in the economy and industry are better achieved through investment in capacity building, skills training and education.
Meanwhile, he added that government-linked companies (GLCs) should be run by “competent professionals” instead of those with “political affiliations”.
Turning the tables
Mustapha, in his response yesterday, claimed that leaked shares was a “common” problem as “the reality is, when you issue shares, there will be those who sell”.
The minister then tried to turn the tables, telling Anwar that shares do not sell as well as they used to back in the day when the latter served as finance minister, a statement which solicited much table-thumping from government lawmakers.
“I was Port Dickson’s (Anwar’s) deputy once. Then, many shares were issued (and), they sold well within two or three days.
“(On the issue of replacing lost reserved bumiputera land), it has been the subject of study by many academics...we will try to address this,” Mustapha, who is Jeli MP, said.
However, Anwar was quick to point out that Mustapha had failed to address his point on billions of alleged leaked bumiputera shares.
Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, had also served as finance minister from 1991 to 1998 before his infamous falling out with then-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Meanwhile, on an earlier question by Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan on initiatives to be expected in the 12MP to strengthen bumiputera economic power, Mustapha said the plan was yet to be finalised.
“The government will continue previous policies that have been effective...focus will be on efforts to increase bumiputera hold in commercial land and new fields such as high technology and digital.
“The government will increase efforts to reduce poverty, regardless of race,” he replied.
The former Pakatan Harapan government, too, had promised to strengthen bumiputera economic standing and empower minorities.
In its midterm review of the 11MP in October 2018 due to the change in government, the then Harapan administration said it was to have focussed on the developing a united "Bangsa Malaysia" and reforming bumiputera empowerment.
These were to have been achieved via specific programmes for native Sabahans and Sarawakians and the Orang Asli in rural areas, as well as specific groups among the Indians and Chinese communities.
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