Legal

Mara Act Amendments to Serve as Legal Safeguard for Bumiputera Agenda, Says Ahmad Zahid

The Star
The Star•May 3, 2026

Why It Matters

The legal shield will cement Bumiputera economic empowerment and protect MARA’s RM3 billion asset base from political shifts, reshaping Malaysia’s development trajectory.

Key Takeaways

  • •MARA aims to become financially self‑sufficient through internal investments
  • •Proposed amendment will lock Bumiputera mandate regardless of leadership changes
  • •Current MARA assets total roughly RM3 billion across subsidiaries
  • •Deadline set to table amendment before parliament dissolves this year
  • •Strengthened governance aims to stop fund leakage and ensure accountability

Summary

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid used the occasion to announce a forthcoming amendment to the MARA Act, positioning the change as a legal safeguard for the Bumiputera development agenda. He highlighted MARA’s six‑decade evolution from a modest agency to a conglomerate with assets estimated at RM3 billion, and outlined a vision for the institution to generate its own funding through investments rather than relying on annual budget allocations.

Zahid stressed that the amendment will embed the Bumiputera mandate into MARA’s statutory framework, ensuring continuity regardless of changes in chairmanship or ministerial oversight. He set a firm deadline: the revised act must be drafted and presented to Parliament before the current session ends and the house is dissolved. The proposal also calls for tighter governance, stricter oversight of subsidiaries, and mechanisms to prevent fund leakage.

In his remarks, Zahid quoted, “We do not want MARA’s agenda altered when leadership changes,” and added that the centennial celebration in a hundred years should find MARA as a self‑sustaining, financially independent institution. He urged board members to develop a clear vision and to prepare the legislative text by year‑end, framing the amendment as a trust bestowed by the Malaysian people.

If passed, the amendment could lock in Bumiputera economic empowerment policies, protect billions in assets from political volatility, and reshape how public‑linked enterprises are funded and governed. It signals a shift toward institutional autonomy while reinforcing the government’s long‑term commitment to the Bumiputera community.

Original Description

Amendments to the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) Act 1966 will serve as a legal safeguard to ensure the Bumiputera empowerment agenda remains intact and is not altered with every change in national or organisational leadership.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move is aimed at establishing a stronger governance framework and stricter regulations to ensure the agency's direction remains consistent in upholding Bumiputera interests, free from political influence.

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