KUALA LUMPUR: Leaders from opposition political parties are invited to attend the Bumiputera Economic Congress which will take place in Putrajaya near here from Feb 29 until March 2.
Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said invitation letters have been sent to opposition political parties to attend the three-day-long congress.
The invitation letters, said Asyraf, were sent on the instruction of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister.
"I like to stress here that the congress is not exclusive to a certain segment in the society. It is open to all people in the country.
"We are inviting all parties to attend the congress. We have sent out the invitation letters (to leaders of opposition political parties).
"This is actually the instruction of the Prime Minister," he told reporters after attending a symposium today.
The symposium was held in the run-up to the Bumiputera Economic Congress next week, which is being jointly organised by Mara and the Economy Ministry.
Asked if he has received any confirmation from opposition leaders to attend the event, Asyraf said he would update the matter the soonest.
"I have just return (from his working visit to) Japan. I will update once I received details over the matter," he said.
Earlier this month, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that all parties are welcome to attend the congress.
The organiser of the congress, said Zahid, is "colour-blind" when it comes to the economy of the Bumiputeras.
Anwar on Feb 15 extended the invitation to the congress to all Chinese and Indian communities.
"Our approach for the congress is more inclusive. Therefore, we want participation from the Chinese and Indian communitie," Anwar had said.