Don't Belittle NEP's Contribution, Mustapa Tells Bumiputeras
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- Bumiputeras were reminded not to belittle the contribution of the New Economic Policy (NEP) todate in supporting the socio economic development of Malaysians.
Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, said the policy's major success was the oppportunity of education given to the society up to the establishment of Universiti Teknologi Mara and large corporations like Permodalan Nasional Bhd.
"Don't belittle the NEP as because of its existence, we had the opportunity to be educated to this level," he said when officiating the 10th Malaysia Plan Seminar here Saturday.
The seminar was organised by the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) and DPMM's Research and Development Foundation.
Mustapa said the government's focus in the 10MP would be capacity building and it would employ all the education and experience gained through the NEP to ensure the success of the plan.
"I will bring all the suggestions made here to the meeting on the agenda of Bumiputera development to be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak soon," he said.
The first meeting is expected to be held on August 12, and subsequently every three months once, where it would plan, execute and monitor the implementation of the Bumiputera development agenda, he said.
Earlier, DPMM President Tuan Syed Ali Alattas proposed that the government set up a Entrepreneur Development Fund worth RM1 billion, and not less than 30 per cent of the government contracts be given to Bumiputera.
At a press conference later, Mustapa refuted an external claim that Bumiputeras were the main reason for the drop in Foreign Direct Investments.
"It is not an issue," he said, adding that Bumiputeras involvement in the manufacturing sector, the main sector contributing to FDI, was minimal.
Apart from that, he also suggested the setting up of a 1Malaysia chamber of commerce for younger entrepreneurs aged 35 and below as part of efforts to bridge the communal gap.
"I find the gap between the young Malay entrepreneurs and other races growing and this is dangerous and could jeopordise future economy," he said.
With such an establishment, which would be initiated by the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malaysia, it is hoped that strategic joint efforts can be taken to reinforce inter-communal harmony for the wellbeing of the country in the future, he added.
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