By Shannon Teoh
April 04, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 — The Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) tasked with transforming Malaysia into a high-income economy will soon implement projects to help Bumiputeras, the trade ministry said today.
“Soon, PEMANDU will organise labs to identify projects that can benefit Bumiputeras,” Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan told Parliament.
He was replying to Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz who asked whether PEMANDU has any plan to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs who he said are still lagging economically.
“Will there be any steps taken by PEMANDU? Bumiputeras face all kinds of obstacles and need help not just in financing,” the Umno lawmaker said.
PEMANDU said this week it had exceeded targets set under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), which has seen 27 service sub-sectors being liberalised from Bumiputera equity requirements.
Sagan earlier said that RM1.35 billion has been allocated this year for 16 agencies under eight ministries tasked with developing Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
Equity Nasional Bhd (Equinas), which invests in Bumiputera small-medium enterprises, took up the lion’s share with RM700 million.
Among the 16 agencies is Teraju, Putrajaya’s Bumiputera business co-ordinator, that has been widely criticised by Malay hardliners for not doing enough to improve the Bumiputera share of the economy.
