Charting the future of bumiputra
Azmin: Experts will meet to discuss steps to help strengthen community’s economic position
EXPERTS will gather soon to chart the future of the nation’s Malays and bumiputra community, says Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
“A congress will be held soon on the future of bumiputra and the nation.
“We will gather economic experts from various sectors to discuss the necessary steps to strengthen the economic position of bumiputra while ensuring the principle of distributive justice for other races,” the Economic Affairs Minister said during his ministerial reply on the motion of thanks on the royal address in Parliament yesterday.
Azmin said the Bumiputra Economic Congress would address the continued low participation of bumiputra in several social economic indicators.
For example, Azmin said bumiputra equity share in the corporate sector has yet to reach the 30% target.
“In 2016, the bumiputra average household income was RM6,267, compared to the non-bumiputra which was RM8,213,” he said.
He added that ownership of prime property by bumiputra was 38.8% or valued at RM5.63bil, compared to non-bumiputra at 56.7% or RM8.23bil.
He also noted that bumiputra were still lagging behind in terms of skills.
Azmin said a study last year revealed that 29.4% of bumiputra were deemed skilled workers compared to 36.3% from non-bumiputra communities.
Non-bumiputra involvement in commer- cial transactions totalled some RM1.01bil while bumiputra only stood at RM210mil.
“Under the Pakatan Harapan government, the economic and social status of the Malays and bumiputra will remain the main agenda, without alienating the interest of other races,” he said.
On July 28, Himpunan Kebangkitan Ummah held a rally at the Sultan Sulaiman Club field in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
The rally was to defend “race and religion” and was attended by politicians from PAS, Umno and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
Rally organisers claimed that the interest of Malay Muslims was in danger since Pakatan won the May 9 elections.