KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) Bill 2026, aimed at streamlining and strengthening the agency’s governance, is expected to be tabled in Parliament this November, says Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
The Mara chairman said 80% of the Bill’s contents emphasises good governance, international standards, sound corporate practices and limiting the powers of the chairman.
“Under the proposed Bill, the powers of the chairman have been reduced.
“The chairman cannot be involved in administrative matters but only serves as a ‘check and balance’,” he said.
Asyraf Wajdi said he wants to leave behind a legacy where the institution is strong, solid and robust in terms of corporate governance.
“This is so that there is no room for any form of corruption, malpractice or misappropriation,” he said in his speech at the Mara sponsored pre-departure programme.
On Aug 12, Asyraf Wajdi had said the proposed Bill aims to ensure there would be no further incidents involving abuse of power, weaknesses in governance, misappropriation, irregularities, leakages or risks that could cause serious harm to the institution.
He said the Mara Act 1966 needed to be updated, as it is no longer in line with current developments and corporate governance requirements.
Meanwhile, Asyraf Wajdi said Mara has resumed sending medical students to Al-Azhar University in Egypt after the programme was discontinued in 2019, with 78 students forming the first intake this year.
He said the decision to send the students was made after obtaining Cabinet approval, with the total cost for each student, including accommodation for the five-year course, estimated at RM350,000.
He said the cost was reduced following a 50% discount offered by Al-Azhar University and is significantly lower than pursuing medicine locally, which could reach between RM700,000 and RM800,000 per student.
“This is the first group we are sending through the medical programme following approval by the Cabinet.
“I would like to thank the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) for agreeing to allow us to send this first group.”
