KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed Opposition claims that the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) overlooks bumiputra development.
Anwar said such claims indicate a failure to read the 13MP document, which prioritises significant allocations for bumiputras.
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He emphasised the Bumiputra Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (PuTERA35) as a key component of 13MP, underscoring the government's dedication to bumiputra initiatives.
"We need to study 13MP thoroughly. Otherwise, there's a misconception that funds are only for Chinese new villages and not bumiputra. Critics clearly haven't read it.
"PuTERA35 includes substantial spending for bumiputra, like the Malay reserve in Bandar Malaysia, which is unprecedented since independence.
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"Only the Madani government has taken these bold steps. Previous administrations, despite their claims, never did," he said during Ministers' Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Aug 5).
Earlier, Datuk Awang Solahuddin Hashim (PN-Pendang) alleged that 13MP, presented on Thursday (July 31), favours Chinese new villages over bumiputra development.
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Under 13MP, PuTERA35 focuses on broad participation, meaningful ownership, and control in strategic sectors.
Efforts will also be made to prepare bumiputra companies for listing on Bursa Malaysia, with initiatives aimed at empowering entrepreneurs from the startup stage to becoming publicly listed.
