KUALA LUMPUR: Majlis Amanah Rakyat’s (Mara) proposal to cease the operations of its corporate arm, Mara Corporation (Mara Corp), has been described as an act of betrayal to the Bumiputera empowerment agenda.
The Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM) has strongly labelled the proposal by the government agency under the Rural Development Ministry as ‘membabi buta’ (unreasonable).
MTEM chief executive officer Ahmad Yazid Othman claimed that Mara did not seek the views of quarters championing the cause of elevating the socio-economic wellbeing of Malays before proposing Mara Corp’s closure.
“MTEM praises Mara for its initiative and planning to improve the fiscal position of the government agency by ensuring better management and investments.
“However, Mara must refine its definition of ‘success’, (which) should be valued based on the budget of the government.
“It must be remembered that according to the laws governing the establishment and operation of Mara, the government agency is responsible and has the authority to carry out activities to support the development of the Bumiputera economy.
“Such activities include programmes in the entrepreneurial sector to uplift the socio-economic position of the Bumiputera community,” he said in a statement, today.
Ahmad Yazid was commenting on a statement by Mara chairman Dr Hasnita Hashim that the agency will shift its focus towards investment in the education sector and entrepreneurship in an effort to reduce its losses.
He also pointed out that the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 blueprint, which was rolled out by the government last year, highlighted that the economic presence of the Bumiputera in the corporate sector is still limited.
“According to data gathered from a study, education on helping the Bumiputera to create greater presence in the country is still insufficient.
“Hence, Mara’s approach, based on profit and loss, will result not only in the closure of many agencies, but also the end of many initiatives for the benefit of the Malays,” he added.
MTEM, he said, hopes that Mara will be given more time and all the necessary support to generate income based on a business plan supported by the government and stakeholders championing the Bumiputera economic agenda.
Ahmad Yazid said Mara must seek experts which the agency needs to improve its position, instead of resorting to selling what it has built over the years.
“Mara Corp itself has been able to narrow its losses to RM74 million and is projected to make profit in the future,” he added.