Poverty in Borneo is proof of NEP failure, says Syed Saddiq

[superadmin]

PETALING JAYA: The New Economic Policy (NEP) needs to be reviewed because it has failed, as can be seen from the level of poverty in East Malaysia, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said.

The former youth and sports minister said the policy, announced in 1970 following the May 13 riots the year before, had some “good parts” which should be kept but also had “bad parts” that have to be done away with.

Syed Saddiq said there was a need to learn from missteps that stemmed from the NEP, adding that the policy itself had to be reformed.

“Look at Sabah and Sarawak. Despite decades of the implementation of the NEP, a quarter of Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras still live below the poverty line.

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