Umno sec-gen: Non-bumi politicians, opposition invited to Bumiputra Economic Congress

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bumiputra Economic Congress 2024 secretariat said that non-bumiputra leaders and the opposition Perikatan Nasional parties will be included as its economic agenda surpasses racial and political affiliations.

Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said this to the media on Saturday (Feb 24) at a briefing on the upcoming Bumiputra Economic Congress.

He said inviting everyone was to ensure that the bumiputra economy issues are not discussed in isolation of the national agenda.

Asyraf then added that the objective of the three-day Congress will be to stop bumiputras from merely being proud of statistics while waiting for handouts of government contracts and to find ways to make bumiputras the main stakeholders of the country’s economy.

On the invitations, the Umno secretary-general also said that Perikatan parties have yet to respond as to whether they will attend.

Immediate checks with Perikatan secretary-general and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin showed that he has yet to receive any invitation.

Speaking about the Congress set to start on Feb 29, Asyraf said that the event comes after a series of engagement sessions conducted by the secretariat with thousands of stakeholders from the grassroots to the leaders in five states for the past two and a half months.

“What was collated from the engagement series on the ground will be presented at the Congress for it to be discussed further,” said Asyraf.

On the Congress, he said that it will be attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and added that the mandate speech to set the direction of the Congress will be given by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“About 5,000 participants will discuss how the bumiputras, especially the Malays, can be empowered to own the national economic pie and not be just professionals and experts in the fields in name,” said Asyraf.

He added that over the following three days, ten clusters will discuss various issues pertaining to the empowerment of the bumiputra economy.

“On the second day, there will also be a session involving political party leaders from various parties. This will include non-Bumiputra leaders as the agenda of empowerment of bumiputra economy is not something that is different from the national agenda.

“The involvement of non-bumis are also needed as Bumiputras form the majority of this multi-racial country,” said Asyraf.

As this is also the first time Mara has been given the honour to be the main secretariat for this Congress, Asyraf said that the success of Mara will be highlighted.

“We will also discuss Mara as a successful institution with its large eco-system and how it has managed to elevate the Bumiputras in terms of education and entrepreneurship will also be highlighted to see how it can be emulated,” said Asyraf.

The public is also invited to visit the many booths which will be set up at the World Trade Centre during the Congress from Feb 29 to March 2.

Meanwhile, at a teaser program to the Feb 29 Congress held today here – the Bumiputra Economic Congress Symposium – panelists of Bumiputra academicians and experts discussed the education reforms, human capital and competitiveness of Bumiputra entrepreneurs.

The discussion centred on the need to reform national schools, why the Chinese vernacular schools were being assisted by the government and the need for Bumiputras who graduate to cater to the wants of the various industries in the country.

“The discussions during the symposium will be brought forward to the main Congress on Feb 29,” said Asyraf.

The first Bumiputra Economic Congress was held in 1995 and the next one will be the eighth one.