Guan Eng says two-year push for non-Bumi funding has failed to sway Anwar, but will keep pressing

Guan Eng says two-year push for non-Bumi funding has failed to sway Anwar, but will keep pressing



DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng said he would continue pushing for economic and social justice for all Malaysians despite the setback. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin


Summary

• DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng expressed dissatisfaction over his unsuccessful efforts to secure additional government allocations for non-Bumiputera communities, despite multiple appeals to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the past two years.
• Nonetheless, Anwar has implemented ten other economic proposals advocated by Lim and senior DAP leaders, including changes to tax reliefs and fuel subsidies, indicating a willingness to consider certain reforms.
• Lim remains committed to advocating for economic and social justice, emphasizing the need for further reforms, particularly in supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) facing financial and competitive challenges.

First Published: Thursday, 12 Nov 2026 9:08 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng today said his repeated appeals to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the past two years for additional government allocations for non-Bumiputera communities have been unsuccessful.

The Bagan MP said he had personally raised the proposal with Anwar during meetings and in Parliament, amid criticism from political activists over his failure to secure the allocations.

“I admit that I have made these suggestion for the past 2 years to the Prime Minister personally in meetings with him and in my speeches in Parliament without success.”

“However, this failure would not deter me from continuing to speak out not just on this issue but also fight for economic and social justice for all communities and every Malaysian,” he said in a statement today.


He proposed that annual allocations for non-Bumiputeras be equivalent to 10 per cent of those specifically allocated to Bumiputeras, without reducing existing Bumiputera allocations.

Despite the setback, Lim said Anwar had adopted ten other economic proposals following repeated appeals from him and senior DAP leaders.

These included raising the e-invoicing exemption threshold to RM3 million in annual turnover, increasing individual income tax relief to RM12,000 from 2027 and restoring the Budi95 fuel subsidy quota to 300 litres per month.

“This shows that the Prime Minister is willing to listen and can be persuaded,” he said.


However, Lim said further reforms were needed to support 1.2 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) facing difficulties obtaining loans, rising compliance costs and competition from foreign businesses.

“Together with top DAP leaders, I will bring these people-centric issues up again in Parliament and in meetings with the Prime Minister,” he said.