Akmal: PuTERA35 begins to propel Bumiputera enterprises into high-value economy

THE Government is intensifying efforts to elevate Bumiputera enterprises, with a focus on meaningful participation, ownership, and leadership in high-value industries, Economic Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir announced during the TERAJU Aspirasi Outreach 2026 at M Resort & Hotel on Wednesday.

The minister stressed that the initiative aligns with the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (RMK13), which promotes inclusive, productive, and competitive national development.

“The agenda we implement today does not exist in isolation. It aligns with the direction of RMK13, which calls for more inclusive, productive, and competitive development,” he said.

Akmal highlighted the MADANI economic framework as a guiding principle, emphasising growth of high value, robust governance, sustainability, and social responsibility.

“Bumiputera empowerment must translate into quality opportunities, mastery of new technologies, strengthened entrepreneurship, and meaningful participation in strategic sectors,” he stated.

He explained that the government’s Bumiputera Economic Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, provides the primary platform for coordinating policy and inter-agency initiatives.

The recently launched PuTERA35 programme seeks to raise the Bumiputera contribution to Malaysia’s GDP to 15 per cent by 2035.

“PuTERA35 is based on three pillars: strengthening the economic foundation of the nation, consolidating governance and institutional harmony, and upholding social justice,” he said, noting the initiative covers 12 drivers and 132 interventions across ministries, agencies, government-linked investment companies, and government-linked companies.

The minister highlighted early successes, including the Bursa Malaysia listings of SumiSaujana Group Berhad on the ACE Market and Orkim Berhad on the Main Market.

Household incomes among Bumiputera Malaysians have increased from RM7,599 in 2022 to RM8,220 in 2024, while poverty rates have declined from 7.9 per cent to 6.6 per cent, with the government targeting the eradication of extreme poverty by 2035.

Akmal emphasised the importance of quality over quantity in economic engagement, focusing on productivity, income, and strategic sector control.

Targeted interventions are being implemented across 11 high-growth, high-value sectors, supported by financial institutions and alternative funding channels via agencies including TERAJU, MARA, SME Bank, and PUNB.

Partnerships with GLICs and GLCs, including Khazanah Nasional, KWSP, KWAP, PNB, Tabung Haji, PETRONAS, and LTAT, further strengthen the ecosystem.

“TERAJU’s role remains pivotal as the main catalyst in transforming the Bumiputera economic landscape, accelerating business scaling and value creation, facilitating high-impact investments, and opening access to strategic markets and value chains,” he said.

He stressed measurable outcomes over symbolic initiatives, announcing upgrades to the PuTERA35 monitoring dashboard for integrated, data-driven oversight.

“We measure success not by announcements, but by achievement and tangible impact,” he said.

The minister called upon all stakeholders to commit to higher productivity and embrace necessary reforms to raise the economic stature of Bumiputera Malaysians.

“We want Bumiputera to ‘step up the standard’, the economy to ‘increase in value’, and Malaysia to ‘rise in stature’,” he declared before formally launching the TERAJU Aspirasi Outreach 2026. - February 11, 2026