MARA ACT TO BE AMENDED TO ENSURE IT REMAINS RELEVANT, GOOD GOVERNANCE - AHMAD ZAHID

PUTRAJAYA, Nov  11 (Bernama) --  The  Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) Act 1966 will be amended to ensure the agency remains relevant and is administered with good governance, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the move is crucial as MARA, a conglomerate with assets exceeding RM23 billion, must be properly managed.

"MARA must be managed in the best possible way and return to its original core business, in line with the purpose for which it was established. The mistakes of previous leadership must be corrected," he told reporters after the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development’s monthly assembly here today.

"We must prove that MARA is on the right track and, Insya Allah, with the assets it possesses, the investments made and the profits generated, MARA will be able to stand on its own to finance all the initiatives set by the Bumiputera Economic Congress,"  said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development.

He told this to reporters after the ministry’s monthly assembly here today.

Ahmad Zahid said MARA has been given six months to draft a bill for the amendment.

Meanwhile, he said the amendment to the Orang Asli Act 1954 is now in the final stages and has been approved by the state governments.

"The most important aspect is obtaining approval from the state governments, as the amendment involves land matters and several issues under their jurisdiction.

"At the KKDW and Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) levels, all matters have been resolved, and I have also presented the proposal at the recent Menteri Besar Conference," he said.

The amendment to the Orang Asli Act 1954 aims to protect and enhance the rights of the Orang Asli community, covering seven key aspects, namely land, education, health, economy, leadership, infrastructure, and culture.

-- BERNAMA