KUALA LUMPUR – Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) is determined to move past the shadow of past controversies, particularly property-related scandals that once damaged the agency’s public standing.
Its chairman, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, said his top priority since taking office has been to ensure transparent, responsible, and well-structured governance to restore public confidence in Mara.
“Many people still associate Mara with previous property scandals, even though most of our current staff had nothing to do with them.
“But we’ve inherited that negative legacy, and it’s our responsibility to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself,” he said in the latest episode of Trick Lama by PoDaBoom, the podcast arm of Big Boom Media, which also publishes Scoop.
The podcast is hosted by Big Boom Media CEO Datuk Zainul Arifin Mohammed Isa, group executive director Datuk Ahirudin Attan (better known as Rocky Bru), and group chief editor Terence Fernandez.
Asyraf noted that such scandals are often pinned on politicians, when in fact many stemmed from weaknesses within internal systems and management.
“The real question is, do we want to see such scandals happen again? That’s why it’s crucial that governance processes are followed and function properly.
“Many blame politicians, but the reality is, the scandals had little to do with any politicians,” he added.
He stressed that there would be no room for mismanagement or abuse of power if the values of integrity and accountability were truly lived and implemented throughout the organisation.
“We have 18,000 staff. They know why they’re here. The values and purpose behind Mara’s founding must be preserved and defended,” he said.
Asyraf also said he has never pursued populist measures or sought personal popularity while in office, but has focused on fulfilling Mara’s mandate with integrity.
“Are there challenges in leading Mara? Of course. But engagement makes things easier, and people understand that we’re doing what’s right.
“That’s why I didn’t request a new vehicle, renovations, or any extra budget or special allocation for myself as chairman,” he said.
He explained that inclusive engagement across all levels of Mara – including field staff – has been key to successfully implementing change and reform.
“If we want to instil good values, we must lead by example. We need everyone in the organisation to feel comfortable and understand why change is necessary,” he said.
To restore Mara’s credibility as a people’s trust institution, Asyraf said existing programmes do not need a complete overhaul, only refinement.
“I haven’t introduced anything entirely new. The programmes are in place, but we’ve recalibrated our priorities to truly meet Mara’s mission. This isn’t my money – it’s the people’s money. We all carry a huge responsibility,” he said.
Mara will remain focused on two core pillars: education and Bumiputera entrepreneurship.
“Education will remain Mara’s flagship, but we’re placing greater emphasis on nurturing a future generation that is competent, principled, and globally competitive.
“We’ve become more selective. We don’t just want students to get into university – we want them to get into the best universities, including the Ivy League. We start preparing them now,” he said.
As for entrepreneurship, Mara has reintroduced a strategy anchored on the “3Ps” – participation, ownership, and control – to strengthen Bumiputera presence in the national economy. – June 6, 2025
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