During the Bumiputra Economic Congress 2024, Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar suggested that discounts for wealthy bumiputra individuals looking to purchase luxury homes should be abolished. He argued that offering discounts for bumiputras buying RM2 million bungalows is not appropriate, and instead, the funds from these discounts should be redirected to assist lower-income bumiputra in buying and owning homes.
Wahid, who is the chairman of Bursa Malaysia, emphasized that the bumiputra property discount should only be maintained for non-luxury properties. He stressed the importance of shifting away from practices that solely benefit affluent bumiputra individuals and focusing on initiatives based on needs and merit. This was one of the key strategies proposed by the cluster on wealth creation to empower the bumiputra community.
One of the core principles suggested by the cluster was to align the new bumiputra policy with values of prosperity, inclusivity, and sustainability. By adopting needs and merit-based policies, it is believed that they will be more widely accepted and embraced by the community at large.
Another speaker at the congress, Tan Sri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali, called for a reevaluation of education policies to cultivate better talent among bumiputra individuals. He recommended a greater investment in quality preschool education for all children, instead of solely focusing on high-performing schools.
Azlan, who led the cluster on education reform and talent, highlighted the importance of providing equal attention and resources to the 96% of public schools attended by the majority of bumiputra children, rather than just focusing on the top 4% of schools that produce high-achieving students.
In addition to improving primary and secondary education, Noor Azlan stressed the significance of ensuring that bumiputra children, particularly those in rural areas, have access to quality preschool education from the age of five. He emphasized that the foundation for developing a person’s character begins at a young age, underscoring the need for quality early childhood education.
