PUTRAJAYA: The government is expected to develop a set of fundamental policies regarding the empowerment of Bumiputera around May or June this year.
Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said the Bumiputera Economic Congress (KEB) 2024 was a process to finalise the policies that would be used by the government on empowering the Bumiputera.
He added that the engagement process, led by non-government representatives and also incorporating government views, had already taken place.
"The government will take the next two to three months for proceedings, planning and monitoring at the KEB council level, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself.
"We have a timeline towards May or June, during which we will have a set of specific Bumiputera policies that capture the aspirations of KEB.
"The overarching approach proposed by the government aims to produce a positive, progressive, and innovative Bumiputera class that creates value without relying on past approaches," he said after the KEB 2024 launch at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre today.
Rafizi said the government would also ensure that the ecosystem moved towards creating a genuine smart partnership.
He said this involved the most able Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras coming together, working collectively to establish Malaysian enterprises that can thrive and compete at least regionally, and eventually internationally.
"So, KEB, this time, is indeed designed to set the stage for that.
"I believe it's crucial for the country to discuss and develop methods to foster collaboration between Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras because we are a nation of 33 million and we must compete globally.
"What we have is not sufficient.
"If we want to quarrel among ourselves, fighting over what we already have, that won't lead us anywhere."
Earlier today, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proposed a Bumiputera Economic Transformation (TEB) as a new policy for the Bumiputera economic agenda following the three-day KEB.
Separately, when met by reporters, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said KEB was aimed at relooking the New Economic Policy (NEP) by inviting groups and chambers of commerce from various ethnicities.
He clarified that the proposed TEB was not set to replace the NEP.
"We are not replacing the NEP, but it has lapsed. We are looking to transform it again.
"We are looking at the successes we have achieved, including the establishment of government agencies resulting from the first and second Bumiputera economic congress."
Mohamad said the government was also making reassessments and improvements to the policy.