‘Soal ekuiti, rujuk keputusan Najib dulu’, Srikandi PKR beritahu Nooryana

Ketua PKR Srikandi Nurhidayah Che Rose has urged Puteri Umno Public Relations Nooryana Najwa Najib to refer to the previous government's decision made by her brother, former Prime Minister Najib Razak, before debating the change in 30% Bumiputera equity requirement for private education institutions. In April 2009, during Najib's tenure as the Prime Minister, his administration announced the liberalization of 27 service sectors without equity requirements, and three years later, the liberalization was extended to several education subsectors.

In 2012, the ownership of foreign equity up to 100% was allowed for certain international, technical, vocational schools, and private universities, she stated in a statement. On the same day, Nooryana reportedly said that the Ministry of Education (MOE) must urgently clarify why the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) was linked to aligning the 30% Bumiputera equity requirement for private education institutions.

MITI had clarified that the ministry was not involved in the initial decision-making. In this context, Nurhidayah noted that Nooryana's inconsistent stance on the government's change in fundamental rules today raises questions. Nooryana is entitled to criticize the government, she added, but the equity issue should not be raised selectively while ignoring the history of past administration.

If liberalization during Najib's tenure could be implemented as part of economic transformation, why is the current change in equity requirement still used as a tool to attack the government? "That is the consistency question Nooryana must answer," she said. On the same day, MITI stated that they had no information about the decision by MOE to waive the requirement of Bumiputera equity holding of at least 30% for private education institutions.

MITI explained that matters related to Bumiputera equity holding are under the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Ministry of Economy.