First day back, Kit Siang targets new Bumi agenda, says only for Umnoputras

Jennifer Gomez, TMI

DAP national adviser Lim Kit Siang (pic) fired the first salvo when Parliament’s new session began today, saying that the government transformation programmes had failed and that the new Bumiputera agenda went against the grain of the New Economic Model which hinged on merit and not based on race.

He said this after Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim responded to a question from Lenggong Member of Parliament Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah to state the achievements of the transformation programmes.

Lim pointed out that the new Bumiputera agenda only benefitted a select few “Umnoputras” when there were many other Bumiputeras and non-Bumis who lived below the poverty line and needed government assistance.

“Isn’t this evidence that the government programmes have failed?” Lim, the Gelang Patah MP, asked.

He questioned whether Umno leaders were willing to pledge that they were Malaysian first and Malay second.

Razali replied that Lim just wanted to see the transformation programmes fail, adding that they were not about politics but helping the needy.

“Malay Bumiputeras make up 68% of the population but only have about 40% equity stake. For the sake of stability, the government needs to help them increase this equity and we hope to achieve this through the Bumiputera agenda,” he said.