KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 — Government-linked companies (GLCs) need to produce more Malay millionaires to prop up the position of Islam in the country, an Umno delegate said at his party’s assembly today.

Pandan Umno delegate Datuk Mohd Haniff Koslan suggested that it was only by strengthening its economic clout that the Malay community can avoid being “slaves” in its own country.

“I’d like to suggest for GLCs to produce Malay millionaires... If one GLC is given the period of two to three years to make one millionaire, then five GLCs will produce five millionaires in the same period,” said Mohd Haniff while debating the motion on economy here.

“Malay millionaires are important because Malays are Muslims. When Malays are rich, Islam would be defended. If Malays are poor, Islam would be sidelined,” he said earlier.

GLCs have been under fire since the run-up to the general assembly, with particular attention reserved for state oil firm Petronas, over its alleged failure to fully support the Malay agenda.

Attacks intensified during the Umno Youth assembly, when a delegate blasted the heads of GLCs as “capitalists” who have forsaken the Malays despite owing their existence to the ruling party and its pro-Bumiputera policies.

Such calls echo sentiments of Malay right wing groups like Perkasa and the Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM), both of which have called for GLC chiefs accused of discriminating against the Malays to be sacked.

But critics have slammed the affirmative action demanded by the group and Umno conservatives, calling it a façade to enrich a select few “Umno Malays” instead of a genuine fight to protect the community’s interests.

Political patronage remains a major obstacle in Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s reform plans.

The problem is also seen as a major cause behind Malaysia’s dwindling economic competitiveness.