Changes in govt haven’t boosted Bumiputera middle class, says Rafizi

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Changes in govt haven’t boosted Bumiputera middle class, says Rafizi


6 hours ago
Pan Eu Joe


The former economy minister says improving Bumiputera productivity is key to reducing Malay insecurity and achieving long-term political stability

The statistics department said the Bumiputera community is expected to grow from 69.4% in 2020 to 79.4% in 2060, while the Chinese and Indian communities are projected to decline to 14.8% and 4.7%, respectively.

PETALING JAYA: Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli says successive changes in government have failed to improve the productivity of the Bumiputera middle class, a key issue he believes lies at the heart of Malay insecurity.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Yang Berhenti Menteri podcast, the Pandan MP said boosting Bumiputera participation and performance in the economy was crucial not only for long-term development, but also for bridging racial divides and achieving political stability.

“We’ve had many changes in government, but we still haven’t managed to energise the Bumiputera middle class to be as productive and dynamic as the Chinese middle class,” he said.


“If we can close that gap, we’ll reduce economic insecurity. And when you reduce that insecurity, Malays will stop saying things like ‘habis la kita’ (we’re doomed).”

Rafizi said Malaysia’s political polarisation is deeply tied to economic disparities, especially among ethnic groups.


“When we talk about the economy, population breakdown matters, because that’s your market.

“As the Bumiputera population grows, their role in strengthening the economy becomes more important,” he said.

He said this was the rationale behind the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (Putera35), which was designed to improve Bumiputera participation in the economy without sidelining other communities.

Rafizi stressed that the initiative was not about increasing entitlement or promoting ethnic quotas, such as insisting all CEOs must be Malay. Instead, he said, Putera35 was meant to create policies that are fair, sustainable and result-oriented.


He added that closing the economic gap was a more effective path to political stability than relying on campaign speeches before general elections.


Earlier this month, the statistics department said Malaysia’s population is projected to peak at 42.38 million in 2059 before gradually declining.

The Bumiputera community is expected to grow from 69.4% in 2020 to 79.4% in 2060, while the Chinese and Indian communities are projected to decline to 14.8% and 4.7%, respectively.

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