Bumiputera Economic Empowerment, a ticket to further progress: KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — The Bumiputera Economic Empowerment agenda announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday acts as the key to the country’s future development and progress. Those championing the cause of Bumiputeras generally agreed that if this group did not use the key, they would continue to lag behind in getting their share of the economic cake. Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said the Bumiputeras should grab this opportunity and utilise the key fully as it was provided to them for their progress as the country’s ‘landowner’. “The government has provided various facilities, infrastructure and many others. All these will be increased and redoubled in the agenda announced by the Prime Minister . “However, I understand that 67 per cent are still lagging behind in terms of the economy currently. It is meaningless for us to achieve independence all this while if this situation continues to persist,” he told Bernama. The five empowerments announced by Najib were providing Bumiputera human capital, enhancing Bumiputera equity ownership in the corporate sector, strengthening Bumiputera non-financial asset ownership, boosting Bumiputera entrepreneurship and business, and strengthening the service delivery ecosystem. Ibrahim said the Bumiputeras were generally excited upon hearing the announcement and it must be successfully implemented in line with its status as a national agenda. “As a national agenda, it must continue to move forward and should overcome all obstacles for the sake of national stability and peace,” he said. In order to ensure the agenda is achieved, Perkasa will act as a monitor in the achievements of the chief executive officers (CEOs) of government-linked companies (GLCs) in determining the target of the Bumiputera participation as the key performance index (KPI). “Any CEO who fails to fulfil the agenda should be dismissed or replaced. Perkasa will become the whistleblower,” he said. Meanwhile, the founder of the Bumiputera Business Premises Foundation, Datuk Mohd Radzi Abd Latif said an initiative on increasing the ownership of business premises, industry and houses for Bumiputeras should be drawn up, implemented and monitored comprehensively. He said this encompassed all networks involving the aspects of ownership, development, contracts, supply, professional services, delivery, management and maintenance. “The foundation is prepared to contribute existing expertise to cooperate with the government to achieve the agenda. For this purpose, a special committee on Bumiputera Real Estate Ownership should be set up and its membership comprising those involved in real estate development,” he said. He said this was necessary to draw up a strategy and to give priority to the aspiration of the Bumiputera economic empowerment agenda. Meanwhile, the president of the Malaysian Youth Council (MYC), Mohamed Maliki Mohamed Rapiee said the Skills Enhancement Training Programme announced by Najib could raise the human capital capacity and assist the people in achieving a higher income. “A critical agenda particularly on the aspect of skilled manpower is crucial. This measure is in line with our need to raise skilled manpower because 70 per cent of our manpower are unskilled,” he said. He referred to the government efforts to widen the programme for the youths with low academic achievement and level of skills. Mohamed Maliki said the programme would also be able to maintain the country’s competitiveness in terms of the economy thus fulfilling the aspiration of the industry and manpower. The government would continue to intensify the 1Malaysia Training Scheme, the Graduand Marketability Programme and the Skills Steering Programme to assist unemployed Bumiputera graduates. Commenting on the move, Mohamed Maliki said the effort was important in assisting the graduates to seek employment and free them from the education loan debt. — Bernama dlvr.it/3ytgCZ
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 07:38:15 +0000