KUALA TERENGGANU: Bumiputra ownership should not be confined to small-scale businesses but must progress towards controlling larger segments of the value chain, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said bumiputra entrepreneurs should no longer be viewed merely as small vendors, ancillary suppliers or players at the end of the industrial chain, but instead be elevated to become principal manufacturers, technology owners and market leaders.
“In the halal industry, for instance, Malaysia’s strength cannot stop at certification alone. Halal must become a value chain that we control, from raw materials, processing, packaging and logistics to marketing and international markets.
“That is why the proposal to establish a consortium of large-scale bumiputra anchor companies to produce critical raw materials such as halal gelatine, enzymes and active pharmaceutical ingredients should be regarded as a strategic move.
“We must reduce dependence on imports and build bumiputra capabilities in high-value halal sectors,” he said when delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Bumiputra Entrepreneurs Economic Convention here yesterday, as reported by Bernama.
He said many Bumiputra entrepreneurs in the food and franchise sectors produce quality goods but still face challenges in costs, scale of operations and market access.
“Therefore, approaches such as group purchasing, centralised commercial kitchens and franchise incubator models can serve as pathways to consolidate purchasing power, standardise quality and elevate bumiputra brands to a higher level,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid urged more bumiputra entrepreneurs to venture into future-oriented sectors such as aero-tech, drones, automation and high-technology industries.
“Bumiputra youths cannot remain merely consumers of these technologies. They must become technicians, designers, component suppliers, service providers, and, ultimately, owners within the industrial value chain.
“This is the true meaning of economic empowerment,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said the measure of bumiputra economic success must be redefined, no longer focusing solely on participation but placing greater emphasis on control and ownership in high-value economic sectors.
“For too long, we have measured success through participation. How many bumiputras are in business, how many entrepreneurs use digital platforms, and how many youths are involved in the gig economy.
“All these are important, but they are not sufficient because in today’s economy, particularly in the digital platform space, participation does not necessarily lead to ownership,” he said.
“That is why the true value of the digital economy lies not merely in transactions. Its real value is in platform ownership, data control and equity creation. In that spirit, I would like to see a bolder effort to develop large-scale, competitive bumiputra digital platforms capable of becoming Malaysian brands.”
Ahmad Zahid said bumiputra must move beyond being technology users and become value creators through technology to remain relevant and competitive in the new economy driven by data, automation and artificial intelligence.
Accordingly, he said the necessary shift was to build bumiputra strength in the technology sector so that they would not merely use applications but become application developers and owners of technology solutions.
Ahmad Zahid also called for the entire bumiputra economic ecosystem to be mobilised in a more integrated manner, uniting policy, capital, technology, talent, markets and courage into a national movement capable of delivering meaningful impact.
“I believe that when bumiputras own platforms, master technology and lead value chains, we will not only build a stronger economy but also a community that is more confident about its future,” he said.
