Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today instructed Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon to immediately hold discussions with the relevant parties to address problems hampering the progress of Malays in the state.

According to Bernama , Abdullah said this was to ensure the problems would not prolong and no party would feel neglected in the state's development.

At the same time, he said, agencies tasked with bumiputera participation in the economy in Penang must undertake reforms and revamp to be more vibrant to assist Bumiputeras.

Abdullah also announced a RM2 million allocation for the Penang Bumiputera Participation and Coordination Unit to help draw up an educational programme to enhance bumiputera human capital in the state.

Change approach

He said the problems of Penang Malays were crucial and must be addressed soon as the government wanted to ensure that nobody would feel neglected or left behind in the development of a state.

Abdullah added that government agencies set up to assist bumiputeras must also change their approach by taking into account the Malays' current needs.

"As the situation today has changed, the challenges are getting more intense, so government agencies need to re-visit their current and adopt new strategies to help the bumiputeras in Penang," he said at the launch of a new building for Umno Tanjung division.

Abdullah said he had ordered that Balik Pulau, whose residents being mostly Malays and still lagging behind the other areas, be given attention as a new growth area.

"If not, Balik Pulau will be neglected," he said.

The premier believed that Balik Pulau residents would enjoy progress from the construction of the second bridge in Penang.

Protest banners

At a press conference later, Abdullah expressed regret with the action of some Umno members who put up banners expressing their dissatisfaction with Koh's leadership.

He said such action would not help but instead worsen the situation because issues like this should be discussed through the proper channels.

He urged all parties to stop making statements in the media because this would not help solve the problems.

State Umno Youth members had hung up banners which read " Koh Tsu Koon tidak ikhlas " (Koh Tsu Koon is insincere), " Kami diusir secara diam " (We are quietly driven away) and " Kerajaan negeri harus bekukan polisi perumahan " (State government must freeze housing policy) at the function, which was also attended by Koh.

Abdullah said this should not have happened as Koh was present as a guest.

"Don't have to play banner politics. Sometimes, when people are very angry, this is what happens but we should resolve the problems through talks and the proper channels," he added.

Penang Umno Youth wings had recently called for the state chief minister's post to be rotated on the grounds that the state government - controlled by the Chinese-based Gerakan - was neglecting the Malays.