Asli welcomes shared prosperity in new Bumiputera Agenda

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed shared prosperity plan in the new Bumiputera Agenda is inclusive and will benefit all Malaysians irrespective of race and religion, according to Asli's Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS).

Its chairman, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam in welcoming the move said the new policy would succeed as it was inclusive and not exclusive as in the past.

"The proposed shared prosperity plan (in the new Bumiputera Agenda) will be more objective as all Malaysians regardless of race, rank, religion and region will benefit from the fruits of higher and more technology driven economic growth.

"The noble Malay and Islamic values such as fairness, competition, courage, discipline and trust will help a lot (to realise this policy)," he told Bernama.

Navaratnam was responding to the statement made by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that fair and equitable involvement of all races in various sectors of the economy is most vital in creating shared prosperity in the spirit of the New Malaysia.

Muhyiddin when addressing Bersatu second annual general assembly in Putrajaya today said the new Bumiputera Agenda should be drafted with the engagement of various parties such as the Malay economic bodies, chambers of commerce of all races, industry players and corporate figures.

Commenting further, Navaratnam said Muhyiddin's speech on the Bumiputera Agenda was a major breakthrough for the national economic policies and hoped the Cabinet would accept the new proposed agenda for the benefit of all Malaysians.

On the contrary, the veteran economist said the implementation of the New Economic Policy made many Malays from the lower income bracket and non-Malays feel alienated due to among others, the ‘ketuanan' (supremacy) attitude.

"The policy saw wide income disparities among Malaysians from the lower income bracket who suffered from lack of basic needs like adequate housing, health and good education.

"This is due to wrong priorities in planning and implementation besides wastage of funds and leakages," he said. - Bernama