Groups: Use Article 153 as core of economic policy
Published: Jan 12, 2011 4:55 PM | Updated: Jan 12, 2011 4:58 PM
The government has been urged to use Article 153 of the Federal Constitution as the core to all policies drawn-up and implemented with regard to national economic development.
The government has been urged to use Article 153 of the Federal Constitution as the core to all policies drawn-up and implemented with regard to national economic development.
This call was contained in a resolution of the Bumiputera Socio-Economic Development Seminar hosted by Sarawak chapter of the Association of Malay Importers and Traders of Motor Vehicles Malaysia (Pekema), attended by over 1,000 participants in Kuching yesterday.
Pekema President Zainuddin Abdul Rahman said the panelists were of the view that it was crucial for the government to use Article 153 as the core to all economy-related policies.
This was because, he said, the article was the pulse and essence of political stability in a multiracial country like Malaysia, taking into account the background and history of local residents.
"This country will continue to evolve over time but failure to understand the importance of defending the rights and needs of indigenous peoples will sooner or later invite greater problems, can destroy existing achievements," he said in a statement issued from Kuching today.
Zainuddin said the government was also urged to defend the special provision under Article 153 whose original objective was to inculcate and promote bumiputera participation in the economy.
"Off late, there have been indecorous voices calling for quotas, permits and contracts which become bumiputera privilege to be abolished, seemingly because it only benefits a few bumiputeras.
"If that is so, what if we demand for gambling, liquor and Astro licences as well as sugar and flour monopolies and so on be abolished because it only benefits a few Chinese and Indians?"
He said the United Nations Charter, under the socio-economic category, clearly mentions that any countries that still have majority groups lagging behind, their interest must become national agenda for socio-economic development of a country.
Therefore, he said, the seminar called on the government not only to continue the allocation of quotas, permits and contracts to bumiputera but also strengthening it so that the present success could be enhanced further.
"The seminar also urged for all moves to withdraw or cancel federal contracts and scrap the Open Import Permit which proves beneficial in putting bumiputera in the automotive sector, be blocked at all costs," he said.
Zainuddin said the seminar also called on the government to set up a unit similar to the Performance Management and Delivery Unit to plan, implement and monitor the performance of bumiputera economy under the Bumiputera Agenda Supreme Council.
The unit should serve as the council's permanent secretariat, headed by a chief executive with a ministerial status who reports directly to the prime minister, he said.
- Bernama
This call was contained in a resolution of the Bumiputera Socio-Economic Development Seminar hosted by Sarawak chapter of the Association of Malay Importers and Traders of Motor Vehicles Malaysia (Pekema), attended by over 1,000 participants in Kuching yesterday.
Pekema President Zainuddin Abdul Rahman said the panelists were of the view that it was crucial for the government to use Article 153 as the core to all economy-related policies.
This was because, he said, the article was the pulse and essence of political stability in a multiracial country like Malaysia, taking into account the background and history of local residents.
"This country will continue to evolve over time but failure to understand the importance of defending the rights and needs of indigenous peoples will sooner or later invite greater problems, can destroy existing achievements," he said in a statement issued from Kuching today.
Zainuddin said the government was also urged to defend the special provision under Article 153 whose original objective was to inculcate and promote bumiputera participation in the economy.
"Off late, there have been indecorous voices calling for quotas, permits and contracts which become bumiputera privilege to be abolished, seemingly because it only benefits a few bumiputeras.
"If that is so, what if we demand for gambling, liquor and Astro licences as well as sugar and flour monopolies and so on be abolished because it only benefits a few Chinese and Indians?"
He said the United Nations Charter, under the socio-economic category, clearly mentions that any countries that still have majority groups lagging behind, their interest must become national agenda for socio-economic development of a country.
Therefore, he said, the seminar called on the government not only to continue the allocation of quotas, permits and contracts to bumiputera but also strengthening it so that the present success could be enhanced further.
"The seminar also urged for all moves to withdraw or cancel federal contracts and scrap the Open Import Permit which proves beneficial in putting bumiputera in the automotive sector, be blocked at all costs," he said.
Zainuddin said the seminar also called on the government to set up a unit similar to the Performance Management and Delivery Unit to plan, implement and monitor the performance of bumiputera economy under the Bumiputera Agenda Supreme Council.
The unit should serve as the council's permanent secretariat, headed by a chief executive with a ministerial status who reports directly to the prime minister, he said.
- Bernama
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