Call to give top posts of GLCs to Malays

UMNO wanita leader has demanded that governmentowned and government-linked companies should give preference to Malays rather than those from other races when it comes to filling top positions.

Wanita Umno Bagan division chief Hamidah Arshad said Malays will lose out if such positions were handed to other races as they tend to sideline Malay participation.

Hamidah asked why a Chinese was appointed to fill the chief executive officer and general manager positions at Penang’s SP Setia Berhad, a Permodalan Nasional Berhad company.

“When other races are allowed to hold top positions, the contractors, consultants, lawyers and others will go to them. Are there no qualified Malay lawyers or contractors in Penang?”

“This GLC is owned by us but why do we give it to other races? How can we help our own race? It was our fault because when we had the power, we appointed and gave power to the other races in the company,” she said while debating the president’s speech at the Wanita Umno general assembly at Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.

Alluding to the DAP-led Penang government, Hamidah said the fate of Malays in the state was akin to those of Palestinians, being chased out from their homeland.

“They (the Malays) are being chased out by DAP. The cleansing process is being done without us noticing,” she said.