‘Name the 1,000 companies’
By Joseph Tawie, FMT
KUCHING: The government’s decision to do away with the 30 percent Bumiputera equity quota has received the opposition’s conditional acceptance.
Welcoming the move, Sarawak DAP, however, insisted that the government reveal the names of the 1,000 companies which the government would help to grow bigger and better.
“We want to know the 1,000 companies. Are they related to Umno or to Barisan Nasional politicians?
“How many of these companies are based in Sarawak, and who are the shareholders?
“Are there Ibans, Bidayuhs, Lun Bawang, Kayans and other natives of Sarawak holding shares in those companies?” asked DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen.
Chong, who is the Kota Sentosa assemblyman, was reacting to the move announced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Najib said that the 30 percent quota had not served its purpose.
He said that it instead hampered Bumiputera companies from developing.
He said the government would instead adopt a different approach to support Bumiputera companies in order to make them more competitive.
What are the criteria?
Najib also said the government would help more than 1,000 companies which have been identified through Teraju (Bumiputera Agenda Coordinating Unit) to become bigger and better.
Said Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP: “The government’s move is a small step forward. But we want to know the selection process and the criteria.”
He said that Najib has been making some major announcements purportedly to reform the whole system in the country.
But in terms of impact, it did not truly reform or change the system for the better.
Citing the move to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA) as an example, Chong said: “I see the move by the government towards reform as very insincere.
“You only make the announcement to repeal ISA but, on the other hand, you are going to replace it with two new laws.
“And those detained under ISA will continue to be detained after the announcement,” he said.
GST still on the cards
Chong also cited the GST (goods and services tax) as yet another example of the government’s insincerity.
He said it was common knowledge that the GST is a regressive tax policy.
“GST taxes people from the lower income group. Previously, they don’t have to pay income tax, but with GST the poor people will indirectly pay taxes.
“After making the announcement, the government received adverse reactions and opposition from the people.
“The government claimed it listened to the opinions of the people and deferred the Bill.
“Since the announcement, I have been attending Parliament and still GST is on the order paper. It has never been removed.
“The government is just waiting for the right time to implement it, which I believe will be after the general election provided it is given a strong mandate to govern,” Chong said.
