Janice Nga of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said there needs to be an emphasis on poorer bumiputeras to avoid manipulation of the government’s “bumiputera agenda”.

She highlighted the 5% discount for housing, arguing that it only benefits those who are already rich.

“There needs to be more sincerity when coming up with policies,” she said.

In a forum organised by the Wisdom Foundation on economic disparity in Sabah, Nga also highlighted that equity held by foreigners went up to 45.5% in 2019, from 25.4% in 1990.

“But what Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob focused on were equity differences between the bumiputera and Chinese. I think we need to debate objectively on why the foreigners’ shares were not highlighted,” she said.

“We have to reflect, why, after so many years of the New Economic Policy (NEP), the poor bumiputeras are very poor and the rich bumiputeras are very rich.

“I think it would be better if we had included the word “poor bumiputeras” in the 12MP. We have to be specific.”

Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau meanwhile said a lesson from the pandemic for Sabah is the need to focus more on industries, as opposed to relying heavily on tourism.

He said there needs to be employment opportunities that are sustainable, productive and profitable, that can withstand extraordinary circumstances like pandemics.

“Here, the challenge will be on leaders, whether or not they will be able to prioritise accordingly.”

He suggested that allocations for the Sabah government be focused more on building up local industries and enhancing downstream production in the state.

Meanwhile, economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram said most of the previous items in other Malaysia Plans were not implemented or enforced.

He said many of the government’s priorities have changed over the past years to focus more on retaining political power.

“These are good ambitions but are these just empty promises? Are we truly serious?” he asked.