'Ensure bumi agenda benefits more than Umno cronies'

Malay NGO Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) has called on the government to ensure its Bumiputra Economic Empowerment agenda does not only benefit Umno cronies, but is “inclusive” of all bumiputeras.

“It (the agenda) covers all quarters that are honest and sincere in the religious and racial struggle, and not merely limited to Umno groups and political cronies,” Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman (left) said in a statement today.

The government too, he said, must prevent corruption when implementing the policies, and learn from past mistakes when implementing the New Economic Policy (NEP) which was “said to have involved elements of cronyism and nepotism”.

“Isma calls on the government to work towards freeing the country’s economy from its dependence on the non-Malays and non-bumiputeras.”

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced the affirmative action policies  last Saturday, which he stated was in response to the strong Malay and bumiputera support displayed at the last general election.