Tajuddin wants new bumi economic policy that's not based on handouts
PARLIAMENT | Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has called for a new bumiputera economic policy, saying previous efforts have failed to uplift the Malays.
However, he said the policy must not be based on handouts.
Debating Budget 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat today, Tajuddin (BN-Pasir Salak) said the problem started with the National Development Policy (NDP) introduced...
PARLIAMENT | Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has called for a new bumiputera economic policy, saying previous efforts have failed to uplift the Malays.
However, he said the policy must not be based on handouts.
Debating Budget 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat today, Tajuddin (BN-Pasir Salak) said the problem started with the National Development Policy (NDP) introduced by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the 1990s.
Tajuddin said under the NDP, there was a greater push for privatisation and foreign investments which came at the expense of bumiputeras.
He said the Pakatan Harapan government which replaced BN in 2018, also continued policies which left bumiputeras behind.
"What is the percentage of bumiputera participation at all levels now? Not just in equity. It's not even 5 percent overall," he claimed.
Seeking quick profits
Thus, he said a change was needed and urged the Finance Ministry to come up with a new bumiputera economic policy which can actually achieve its goals.
"If not, in 50 years' time we still wouldn't know whether Malays are left behind as they are today," Tajuddin said.
He said that politicians should not blame Malays and accuse them of being lazy or seeking quick profits by flipping equity and land given to them.
He said selling off land and equity was a way to grow wealth so that even more wealth can be acquired - which he claimed is what the Chinese community does.
"Our friends from the Chinese community, this is what they do. Buying and selling, buying and selling. Every time they buy they increase their assets and control.
"This is what we (Malays) should be doing," he said.
Welfare state
Meanwhile, Tajuddin (above) said while welfare in the form of handouts and subsidies should be given, it should not be a long-term solution.
"How long do you want to go on with a welfare state? We have to move further.
"We want to be a developed, high-income country. So it's not enough by just giving out subsidies or handouts.
"I ask the government, and leaders on both sides to think big. We have to change," he said.
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.