KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts to strengthen the bumiputra agenda have been carried out more assertively, firmly and boldly over the past three years under the government, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said under the Madani framework, there was no room for elitist thinking that sidelines bumiputra interests.
He said the government’s track record so far clearly demonstrated that the welfare and rights of the bumiputra community remained a consistent priority.
“I want to emphasise that over three years of the Madani government, bumiputra programmes have been more vocal, more firm and more courageous,” he said during the 60th anniversary celebration of Mara yesterday.
On the government’s broader policy direction, Anwar said support for meritocracy did not come at the expense of opportunities for bumiputra.
He cited the decision to grant automatic university placements to students who achieved 10As and above, regardless of background.
“At the same time, 90% of bumiputra students are still given opportunities in the matriculation programme,” he said.
The Prime Minister also criticised certain quarters, including academics, for allegedly constructing misleading narratives regarding education quotas.
He said the matriculation programme was initially established as a 100% bumiputra initiative before the government introduced a 10% allocation to assist underprivileged non-Malay students.
In this regard, Anwar urged all parties to assess government policies holistically and avoid creating a “zero-sum game” perception that could undermine national harmony.
