He instead asked what Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhamad Farid Saad and other Penang Umno leaders had done to uplift the living standards of the Malay community here.
Farid, who is also the chairman of the Focus Group on Bumiputera Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives Committee, under the Penang Bumiputera Development Council, had lamented that the involvement of Malays in the economy, industries, professional fields and asset ownership, such as business premises and properties, had not at all been impressive.
He told Berita Harian, in an exclusive interview, that the size of land ownership for the original residents on the island was diminishing, with many migrating to the mainland due to the rising cost of living.
Afif, who heads the state agriculture, agro-based industries, rural development and health committee, today called a press conference to question the success of the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda), set up to increase Bumiputera asset ownership in Penang.
“Perda was set up in 1983. I would like to ask how many lands and Bumiputera assets belonging to Perda have been sold off?
“Can Perda show where its assets are now?
“Any statistics to show any increase in the ownership of Bumiputera assets in Penang?”
Afif claimed the response from Perda in the last few years was to sell assets and land it owned, the most recent being the sale of a piece of land in South Seberang Perai at RM16 million, which is below market price.
The PKR Youth deputy chief also questioned the status of federal government-owned real estate firm JKP Sdn Bhd.
He wondered what had become of the projects JKP was supposed to focus on to develop and increase the ownership of Bumiputera assets in Penang.
“These are questions Farid must answer.
“Don’t just put on a show and make it seem as though Penang Bumiputeras are still sidelined when the agencies responsible are all led by Umno leaders.”
Afif said the Penang government was still focused on helping all, regardless of race, so long as they needed help, especially in terms of asset and home ownership.
“That is why we focus on the development of affordable housing and people’s housing,” he said.
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