Building capacity, skills vital for 21st century Bumiputera
KUALA LUMPUR: The 21st century Bumiputera needs to build capacity and skills as a landmark to benefit from the opportunities available and not get caught up in the never-ending polemic over rights, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The prime minister said the 21st century Bumiputera must be equipped for his era, while focusing on rights without optimizing the opportunities that came from these rights was not only fruitless and wasteful to the individual but the whole Bumiputera community as well.
"This happens, for instance, when Bumiputera companies and individuals allocated with RM54 billion worth of shares by the government are eventually left with only around RM2 billion," he said at the first presentation of ICT awards of the Malaysian Association of Bumiputera ICT Industry and Entrepreneurs-Awani at the Putra World Trade Centre, here, today.
"This happens, for instance, when Bumiputera companies and individuals allocated with RM54 billion worth of shares by the government are eventually left with only around RM2 billion," he said at the first presentation of ICT awards of the Malaysian Association of Bumiputera ICT Industry and Entrepreneurs-Awani at the Putra World Trade Centre, here, today.
Najib said a lot of people would be angry when faced with the fact, "but to begin solving any problem, we must first identify the problems that need to be tackled".
He said Bumiputeras must be resilient, resourceful and capable of inventing and reinventing themselves for every situation.
The prime minister said the Bumiputera community must also be proud of their work and achievements, and not be afraid to venture out into uncharted waters.
The prime minister said the Bumiputera community must also be proud of their work and achievements, and not be afraid to venture out into uncharted waters.
"We don't want to see the Bumiputera community that is always asking (for aid), easily satisfied and likes to be in the comfort zone.
"The competition today is of minds and skills. Those who are knowledgeable and have mastered information, are the power that can change their surroundings. Therefore, we must not take the easy way by being dogmatic and easily satisfied with the form compared to the content.
"The nation is now at a critical crossroad, to make quantum-leap transformation involving structural, institutional, policy and work method changes or ad hoc or slow but risky changes that will make us a failed state.
"The latest challenge is even bigger as we have to face all these while ensuring social justice and stability without causing fear to any party."
Najib also said that no quarters could deny that transformaton had changed the country's political landscape of the last 50 years.
He said from an agriculture country dependent on export commodities, Malaysia had diversified its economy with the manufacturing and services sectors being dominant.
Najib described the success achieved in the last 50 years as monumental, with economic growth and wealth creation moving in tandem, and the creation of social justice through the principle of equitable distribution of wealth.
"As a result, poverty has been drastically reduced and Malaysia has moved from being a low-income to a moderately-high income nation," he said.
The award-presentation which was broadcast live by Astro Awani was held in recognition of the excellent achievements of information communication technology (ICT) companies which have impacted the lives of multiracial Malaysians, as well as a recognition for Bumiputera technopreneurs.
The prime minister presented 13 awards to the recipients.
Najib said ICT organizations had been playing a very important role in the development of the ICT industry in Malaysia.
"I am proud that our country has a strong foundation in ICT, including in the development of software, applications and service provision," he said.
Bernama
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