The author of an article which implies that the Chinese community controls 60 percent of Malaysia's wealth should substantiate his claims, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Commenting on an article by Prof Shamsul Amri Baharuddin in the August issue of Dewan Masyarakat , Lim said the assertion of "Chinese economic supremacy" was disputable.

He said figures show that bumiputeras dominate many core industries - such as banking and plantation sectors - and that government linked companies are among the top companies on the stock exchange.

Quoting think-tank Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute's'Proposal for the Ninth Malaysia Plan', Lim said bumiputeras control an estimated 45 percent of equity and not 18 percent as reported by the Economic Planning Unit.

Referring to the same proposal, he said Malay participation in the civil service, especially at the top management level, was at an overwhelming 83.95 percent.

In view of this, Lim said it was clear that the Chinese no longer have economic clout.

"(The article is) fiction created by an irresponsible academic with a political agenda," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said he believed the article was intended to provoke the Malay and Chinese communities into a conflict to divert attention from the internal wrangles of Umno.

The article titled, 'Malay political supremacy versus Chinese economic supremacy', was heavily criticised by MCA Youth delegates during the party's annual general assembly last Saturday.

"Chinese own almost 60 percent of Malaysia's wealth, either in capital, property or equity. Thus, it can be concluded that Chinese economic supremacy is a fact that cannot be denied," the article states.

However, Lim said the facts show that "it is the Malay elite, or bangsawan baru , that controls Malaysia's economy".