45% Bumiputera equity

ASLI's Director resigned and stand by the 45% bumiputra equity report, non-Malay ministers kept quiet and self-marginalised themselves, son-in-law KJ said "damage is done".


Cabinet yesterday accepted the apology extended by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) for its report on 45% bumiputra equity ownership. Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar expressed satisfaction with the ASLI statement and gladness that the issue would not be dragged on further.

Minister for Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said ASLI’s apology and retraction of the controversial report, which he had earlier dismissed as “rubbish”, was proper although it was late, but this was better as ASLI itself had admitted the wrong methodology used to evaluate bumiputra equity ownership.

There is a thunderous silence by MCA, Gerakan, MIC, SUPP Ministers and others from Sabah and Sarawak after the Cabinet meeting yesterday.

If these Ministers agree with Muhyiddin and Syed Hamid that the report of ASLI’s Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) on “Corporate Equity Distribution: Past Trends and Future Policy” was “rubbish”, let them have the courage of their conviction to speak up publicly to justify their position. If they had disagreed, having different views, let them speak up too.

Or is their silence the latest proof of their marginalization in the Cabinet and the highest decision-making councils in the Barisan Nasional government – where they dare not and cannot express their views on important national issues with far-reaching consequences for the nation and future generations!