PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reminded institutions and officials managing the Bumiputera agenda to fulfil their duties diligently to achieve the intended goals.
He cautioned against damaging the agencies with weak governance and abusing them for personal gain and wealth accumulation, as well as abandoning the agenda to elevate the Bumiputera, calling those responsible as "the bigger traitors."
He said hundreds of agencies were set up and billions of ringgit invested, but implementing government initiatives must go with accountability.
"However, before we can reach the implementation stage, (we must ask) who will implement it?
"Those implementing the Bumiputera agenda must look at the (initiatives under the agenda) in detail and carry them out responsibly and efficiently," he said in his speech at the launch of the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (PuTERA35) today.
He thanked enforcement agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Inland Revenue Board, and the Auditor-General for ensuring that government allocations are spent wisely and in curbing financial leakages.
He said leakages would hinder the intended groups from benefiting which would lead to dissatisfaction among the people.
PuTERA35, bearing the theme 'Penyertaan, Pemilikan dan Penguasaan (3P) Bumiputera yang lebih bermakna' (Meaningful Bumiputera Participation, Ownership and Mastery), was designed to enhance the value of Bumiputera contributions by fostering a more productive and integrated approach.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said while the government draws up affirmative policies to ensure equity, it has never sidelined other groups.
"Who says the Bumiputera policy sidelines the interests of other races? We can accept it if there are reasonable demands (from any group).
"That's why, with the new approach, we assist the hardcore poor without categorising them based on race."