KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — MARA will undergo a major revamp in a bid to shed the “stigma” of bureaucracy and discrimination plaguing the multi-billion Bumiputera development agency, new chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa revealed today.
Among the most notable changes would be a more transparent issuance of grants to Bumiputera contractors, which is estimated to be around RM2 billion yearly under a programme meant to help grow Bumiputera companies.
MARA currently receives a yearly allocation of RM4 billion from the Federal Budget.
Over the past few decades, the agency has been dogged by allegations that corruption has hampered its aim of fostering Bumiputera entrepreneurship as grants were allegedly given out only to politically-linked businessmen.
There are also mounting complaints that it was increasingly hard for poor Bumiputeras to apply for loans and scholarships due to red tape.
“I want to remove that stigma that says MARA is rife with bureaucracy, discrimination and inefficiency.
“These are things that need to be corrected. We must not be afraid to admit our weaknesses. We can no longer adopt this government-is-always-right approach,” Annuar (picture) told a press conference at the corporation’s main office here.
In the short term, Annuar said MARA will initiate seven key programmes that will cover the corporation’s main portfolios — Bumiputera education and entrepreneurial development.
Its flagship MARA junior science college (MRSM) will now incorporate a Cambridge course with a pilot project expected to be implemented in three of its schools starting next year, a move aimed at strengthening the education quality of the colleges in line with the federal push for reform in the local education system.
Annuar also said MARA is aiming to become self-sufficient, instead of depending on direct federal grants for its funding, through investments in projects that will be given to qualified Bumiputera companies or contractors.
“We want the contractors who receive the grants not to sell their contracts. We don’t want them to ‘ali babakan’ the grants. We want those who win to utilise them and become successful entrepreneurs,” the former minister said.
“Ali baba” is a colloquial term used to describe rent-seekers.
Annuar also announced an increase of funds in the now-dormant Amanah Saham MARA to RM200 million that will be distributed through its investment arm Permodalan MARA Berhad.
The Umno veteran added that MARA will no longer be an ad-hoc-based body but a corporation that needs to return to its fundamental objectives with long- and short-term targets to keep it in check.
“We must have a new approach to handle all the programmes…it must be a hands-on approach and I want all state MARA to do this,” he said, adding that the revamp was in line with the expectations laid out by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when he announced an extra RM1 billion fund for the body as part of Putrajaya’s new Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Agenda.
Annuar said the government can no longer walk free from allegations of mismanagement pertaining to MARA’s operations and that any power abuse found in handling its finances would be punished at the ballot box.
“The people’s expectations are very high. The rakyat will scrutinise our actions closely so we need to take MARA forward,” he said.
MARA was formed through a special Parliamentary Act in 1966. Annuar noted that this meant the body is answerable to Parliament and that it must be held accountable for its actions.
