Miti tak dimaklum mansuh syarat ekuiti Bumiputera untuk pusat tuisyen

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) stated on today that it lacks information regarding the decision made by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to nullify the Bumiputera equity requirement of at least 30% for private educational institutions. MOE announced the decision yesterday, explaining that it was a result of discussions with MITI.

According to MOE, the decision was made to meet sectoral needs and ensure that the educational sector remains open to participation from all interested parties. However, MITI clarified in a statement today that the issue of Bumiputera equity ownership is within the purview of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) under the Ministry of Economy.

MITI hopes this clarification will help correct the role of the ministry in the matter, ensuring that the information provided to the public is accurate and clear. The issue emerged early this week after Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung revealed MOE's guidelines allegedly mandating Bumiputera-owned centers to hold 30% equity to renew their licenses next year.

Parents Action Group in Education of Melaka (PAGE) questioned the requirement that business owners, some of which have been operating for decades, must relinquish 30% of their ownership to continue their operations. Independent scholar Sharifah Munirah Alatas also expressed concern that the rationale could generate racial sentiment in the education sector and may not necessarily encourage robust Bumiputera entrepreneurship.