KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has proposed that the Barisan Nasional-led government review its existing economic and social policies, noting that they are flawed and had caused urbanites, in particular, to blame Putrajaya for the lack of economic opportunities.

“We have to admit that the existing mechanism is somewhat ineffective. The wealth among a few businessmen and government-linked companies (GLC) has [had] no real impact on the lower-income groups,” MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said in his speech at the 61st MCA general assembly yesterday.

He said the wealth gap in Malaysia is a tricky issue as it touches on race as well, and proposed that MCA, as well as the government, work together to reduce the wealth and income gap regardless of race.

“Urbanites, especially the bumiputera, blame the government because their economic opportunities are limited, while the Chinese urbanites blame the government for the perceived rise in corruption and crime,” he said.

Liow proposed that the party carry out several socio-economic projects under the theme Medan Inovasi 1Malaysia, which would encourage cooperation among the races from small and medium enterprises (SME) to GLC. — by Anisah Shukry/The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 13, 2014.