Muhyiddin insists NEM protects Malay agenda

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 – The Najib administration’s New Economic Model (NEM) will continue to protect the Malay agenda and Bumiputera affirmative action polices, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

The deputy prime minister also stressed each of the National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) protects Malay participation in the economy.

“Many Bumiputera entrepreneurs have asked where is the Malay agenda in the New Economic Model. I assure the Bumiputera business leaders that NEM is committed to the involvement of the community in the country’s economic sectors.

“We do not need to explain each of the NKEAs to see that the NEM protects Malay and Bumiputera participation In the country's economy,” Muhyiddin (picture) told reporters after attending an event by the Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The chamber earlier announced that it was launching a “Malay” lab to study the socio-economic status of the community.

“To support the government because Idris Jala has conducted so many labs, the chamber will launch a Malay lab. We have decided to establish a Malay socio-economic lab which will be in line with the government’s Malay agenda,” said its president Syed Ali Alattas.

Pemandu’s CEO Datuk Seri Idris Jala recently launched National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) Lab Open day for the public

The deputy prime minister said the lab was in line with government’s policy.

“I support 100 per cent the efforts by the chamber to establish a Malay lab because it is in line with the government leadership to ensure the Bumiputera affirmative action policies remains in the New Economic Model.

“This will help the government in its efforts to have greater involvement of Malays and Bumiputera in all aspect of the economy,” he added.

Pemandu has identified 12 NKEAs which include oil and gas, palm oil and related products, financial services, wholesale and retail, tourism, information and communications technology (ICT), education, electrical and electronics, business services, private healthcare, agriculture and Greater Kuala Lumpur revitalisation.

The government will be using recommendations from the NKEA labs to formulate initiatives to transform the nation into a high-income economy though it’s Economic Transformation Program (ETP).