KUALA LUMPUR: Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun has dismissed claims that Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), which recently rolled out its new business plan, was trimming the number of staff within the agency.
She also denied rumours that staff attached with subsidiary companies under Mara were dealing with arrears in salary for several months.
Without identifying any quarters, Rina described the rumours enveloping the agency under her ministry as false allegations, unfounded and slanderous.
“Such action (spreading of rumours) did not reflect the sincerity of Mara in protecting and empowering the agency into an institution which is significant towards building the nation especially elevating the socio-economic wellbeing of Bumiputera,” she said in a statement today.
Rina said she is committed in ensuring the mandate awarded to the Mara Council members and the management of the agency were executed in accordance with Mara Act 1986.
She said both Mara Council members and management have been instructed to conduct frequent engagement activities to gather views and opinions from the stakeholders.
Such activities, she said, would help Mara move forward, expand its capabilities and realise its objectives.
“For this year, among the areas to be given focus included improving the capabilities of its education institutions in order to produce human capital based on the demands of the work force in the future.
“Mara will emphasise on entrepreneurship by producing more entrepreneurs in the rural areas as well as expand the business capabilities of the present entrepreneurs under the agency.
“Mara also plans to set up an endowment fund and strengthen its investment management capabilities in several fields and sectors,” she said.
Mara in recent weeks has been criticised for its new business plan which would see the agency shifting focus towards education sector and entrepreneurship in an effort to improve the fiscal position of the agency.
The Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) had described the plan as betrayal of the Bumiputera agenda.
DPMM president Datuk Seri Syed Hussein Alhabshee urged Mara not resort to taking the easy approach in cutting its losses and instead empower the agency in line with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 (SPV 2030).
Mara also earned an earful from the Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM), which had labelled the proposal to cease the operations arm Mara Corporation as unreasonable.