Imbalances: KCCI to submit proposals

29 July, 2007

The Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) will submit proposals to the government to resolve economic imbalances in the distribution of economic development among Bumiputeras in the country.

Its President, Frederick Lojingki said the Chamber recognised that the situation existed in the country, as experienced by the Malays in Penang, Labuan and the natives in Sabah and Sarawak.

"There is a strong undercurrent among the younger generations of KDMs that opportunities are not sufficiently accorded to them in the civil service, exposure in government-linked companies and in business.

"This congress will attempt to deliberate all these concerns at length and forward our findings and proposed solutions to the government for consideration," he said.

He said the Chamber was aware of the frustrations of its members and the KDM business community in general, due to not being sufficiently accorded opportunities in government contracts, licences, permits, grants and funding among others, he said.

"Government-linked companies such as Petronas I was told are fond of telling Bumiputera contractors and service providers in Sabah that they have no experience in handling oil and gas industries when in fact these issues are a chicken-and-egg situation.

"Sometimes Bumiputeras are also entitled to make mistakes in managing business in order for them to learn faster. I read recently that Petronas will be spending RM73 billion in Sabah in developing the oil and gas industry for the next three years up to 2010," he said.

Towards this end, Lojingki said the KCCI was appealing to the government under the Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU) under the Prime Minister's Department to undertake statistics on the economic participation by the KDM community.

"With accurate statistics this will enable the government to address problems affecting the KDM community and formulate policies specific to its target group.

"We also appeal to government to give opportunities to the KDM communities to sit in the Board of Federal government linked companies to be considered for government contracts, licences, permits and revolving funds," he said.

In this respect, he urged the KDM community, particularly KCCI members to be proactive in participating in government programmes meant for Bumiputeras.

He said the attendance of Finance Minister II Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan at the congress "speaks volumes about the government's concerns in wanting the KDM business community to be part of nation building".

Close to 300 participants from the various non-Malay native groups as well as higher learning institution students attended the one-day congress themed "Towards An Equitable Distribution of Wealth Amongst Bumiputera".