Amendments will be made to the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) Act 1966 as part of enabling the agency to stand on its own two feet, says deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid said the amendments were to ensure good governance in Mara, particularly since it had assets worth more than RM23 billion, Bernama reported.
“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 the previous leadership must be corrected.
“We must prove that Mara is on the right track and, God willing, 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,” he said.
Zahid, who is also the rural and regional development minister, said he had given Mara six months to draft a bill to amend the Act.
Separately, he said amendments to the Orang Asli Act 1954 were in the final stages and had received the green light from the state governments involved.
“The most important aspect is obtaining approval from the state governments, as the amendment involves land matters and several issues under their jurisdiction,” he said.
The amendments aim to further protect and enhance the rights of the Orang Asli, particularly in the areas of land, education, health, economy, leadership, infrastructure, and culture.
