Published April 1, 2009

M'sian minister vows economic equality for all

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(KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia's International Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has vowed to end economic discrimination against the country's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities in a bid to revive government support, an official said yesterday.

Malaysia, which has a substantial population of minorities, has a system of affirmative action that gives preference to its Muslim-Malay majority in awarding contracts, government jobs and scholarships.

Ethnic Chinese and Indians, who together make up a third of the country's 27 million people, want to see an end to the policy. Many are also non-Muslims and complain that their religious rights have also been threatened.

Mr Muhyiddin pledged the government would ensure that the 'economic cake' was shared equally in Malaysia, where Malays comprise 60 per cent of the population, said an aide to Mr Muhyiddin.

Mr Muhyiddin, who last week was elected deputy president of the ruling party, is expected to take over as deputy prime minister this week. He replaced Najib Razak, who was elected party president, and will succeed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

'We want to implement more effective social programmes. We begin by having a new leadership,' the New Straits Times quoted Mr Muhyiddin as saying. 'We admit that we have weaknesses and have made mistakes in the past.'

His comments, while speaking to reporters on Monday, come at a crucial time for the ruling National Front coalition. The alliance, which has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957, has lost significant support recently to Anwar Ibrahim's opposition alliance amid rising complaints by the minorities.

Mr Muhyiddin is currently leading the National Front's campaign for three by-elections to be held on April 7. He said the by-elections were the right time for the new government leaders to show their commitment to reforms. -- AP