KOTA KINABALU: National Bumiputera economic policies must fully reflect the unique perspectives and needs of Sabah and Sarawak’s native populations rather than focusing solely on Peninsular Malaysia, state Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Speaking at a Bumiputera Economic Congress engagement session on Tuesday (Oct 6), Ewon said that any future national economic planning must be anchored in the history of Malaysia's formation, the Federal Constitution, and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
While acknowledging ongoing debates over the Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera dynamic, Ewon said that the special safeguards under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution and MA63 remain foundational to the federation.
"In building the Bumiputera agenda, policies and initiatives cannot be based on the rights of Peninsular Bumiputeras alone," Ewon said. "The perspectives, interests, and priorities of Sabah and Sarawak natives must form a central part of these national plans."
He noted that while leaders are responsible for serving all citizens regardless of ethnic background, national economic planning must respect the constitutional framework and historical compromises that bind the nation together.
Ewon urged planners to integrate Sabah’s specific poverty data and local economic landscape—particularly its micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—into national blueprints.
