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FUNDING for the various racial groups in the country must be driven by facts and markets instead of arousing divisive sentiments, says DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng.
Political parties serious about nation-building should take a national unity and fact-based approach towards the national economic policies instead of arousing divisive sentiments on the question for non-bumiputras to be granted RM1 for every RM10 budgetary allocation given to the dominant bumiputras.
Fomenting extremist sentiments at the expense of the truth has been the modus operandi of opposition parties but those from the ruling unity government should not adopt a similar divisive stance, said Guan Eng in a statement.
To recap, the Perikatan Nasional (PN)’s 2022 Budget allocated RM11.4 billion to bumiputras and a mere RM345 million to non - bumiputras or only three per cent of what is given to non - bumiputras.
"This mere three per cent is grossly unfair and inadequate when non-bumiputras are substantial contributors to nation - building as taxpayers and human resources.
"My suggestion of giving budgetary allocation to non-bumis of RM1 for every RM10 given to bumis does not take anything away from the bumis.
“Further, this non-bumi portion RM1 out of a total allocation RM11 is only nine per cent of the total sum allocated with the bumis receiving 91%.
“For example, if bumis are allocated RM12 billion, then non-bumis should be allocated RM1.2 billion. This RM1.2 billion does not come out from the bumis RM12 billion, which remains untouched.
“No one disputes the fact that the majority of those living in poverty in Malaysia are bumiputras. The Statistics Department’s Poverty in Malaysia 2022 Report cites the national absolute poverty rate at 6.2%, with 7.9% for bumiputra, 1.9% for Chinese, 5.4 % for Indians, and 6.5% for other Malaysians," Guan Eng said.
In other words, the absolute poverty rate for bumis is 4.2 times worse than Chinese, 1.5 times worse than Indians and 1.2 times worse than other Malaysians, he added.
"This disparity is the reason why I suggested giving bumis budgetary allocation 10 times more compared to non-bumis with non-bumis getting 10% of that received by bumis.
“This 10 times more budgetary allocation for bumis far exceeds the worst disparity of absolute poverty rate between bumis and Chinese of 4.2 times."
Lim also noted that in terms of absolute poverty, Bumiputera make up 85.2 per cent of households affected, compared to 14.8 per cent for non-Bumiputera.
He argued that the current allocation of 33 times more for Bumiputera than non-Bumiputera should be revised to 10 times, which would be more equitable while still addressing poverty among Bumiputeras.
This would be more equitable and reasonable by balancing the moral imperative to redress poverty amongst bumis without depriving other citizens of their just dues, said the Began MP, who is also a former finance minister. - March 7, 2025.
