30% Bumi Equty lifted For 27 Service Sectors

Republised this article which was published on 22 April 2009 by Malaysiakini.

The government has lifted the 30 percent bumiputera equity rule for 27 service sectors involving health and social services, tourism, transport, business, computer and related services. "The liberalisation of the services sector is pursued with the view of creating a conducive business environment to attract investments, technologies and higher value employment opportunities," Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak told journalists. He said the government would progressively be liberalising the other service sub-sectors on an on-going basis. With today's announcement, businesses in the 27 service industries will no longer have to be 30 percent owned by bumiputera. The rule is part of the New Economic Policy (NEP), launched after 1969 racial riots, in an effort to narrow the wealth gap between Malays and non-Malays. Critics say the policy has failed and that its biggest beneficiaries have been Malay entrepreneurs who cash in on an array of perks including discounts on property purchases and specially allocated government projects. "The liberalisation of the services sector is pursued with the view of creating a conducive business environment to attract investments, technology and to create higher value employment opportunities," Najib said. "These efforts are expected to enhance the level of competitiveness of the services sector in the country," he said in a statement. 'More politically correct' Wan Suhaimi Saidi, an analyst at Kenanga Investment Bank, said the move was a response to criticism that the bumiputera policy is making Malaysia more uncompetitive even as it slides towards recession during the global downturn. "The move is clearly about relaxing the equity conditions that have been a bone of contention among some investors," he said. "Eliminating the 30 percent bumiputera equity requirement in these service sub-sectors is good for the market as it will encourage investment in a more politically correct way." Under the measure, up to five international law firms will also be allowed to offer services relating to Islamic finance. The government wants the Muslim-majority country to become a global hub for Islamic banking.

Program Mara Terjejas Akibat Peruntukkan Kecil

Berdasarkan pengalaman penulis yang berurusan dengan agensi kerajaan, hampir keseluruhannya menyatakan bahawa peruntukan operasi untuk tahun 2010 sangat berkurangan dan ada yang dipotong sehingga 60 peratus berbanding tahun sebelumnya.

Peruntukan hanya cukup untuk operasi sahaja, manakala untuk perolehan hanya untuk yang penting sahaja. Antara agensi kerajaan yang dipotong peruntukannya ialah Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) yang mengendalikan urusan kepentingan orang Melayu.

Berdasarkan laporan untuk tahun 2010, Mara hanya menerima RM374,537 juta, berbanding RM883,785 juta dalam tahun sebelumnya.
Mengikut pecahan - IKM hanya menerima RM143 juta berbanding RM403 juta dalam tahun 2009, manakala Giat Mara menerima kurang RM12 juta kepada hanya RM16 juta untuk tahun ini, berbanding RM28 juta dalam tahun 2009.

MRSM dan kolej Sains Mara mendapat RM115 juta turun daripada RM254 juta.

Lanjutan daripada pengurangan peruntukan, maka jumlah pelajar tajaan Mara untuk tahun 2010 telah berkurangan lebih 60% kepada 25,000, berbanding 72,729 di dalam tahun 2009 dan 52,803 dalam tahun 2008.

Pengambilan pelajar di MRSM juga turun kepada hanya 9,579 berbanding 14,611 (2009) dan 27,562 (2008), manakala untuk IKM/KKTM turun kepada 15,640 berbanding 21,407 (2008) dan 17,482 (2009).

Bagi Giat Mara jumlah pelajar yang diambil untuk tahun ini turut berkurangan walaupun tidak di dalam peratusan yang besar, iaitu 24,520 berbanding 19,658 (2008) dan 25,554 (2009).

Namun program melatih usahawan bumiputera paling teruk terjejas di mana daripada 26,947 pelatih dilahirkan dalam tahun 2008, kini untuk tahun 2010 tempat yang diperuntukan terhad kepada 6,000 sahaja.