Using MARA as a means to assist all poor, unemployed and marginalized in Malaysia

After 52 years, maybe there is a need to shift the focus of the nation from preferential treatment for certain ethnic/religious groups to the poor in Malaysia, irrespective of race or religion.

MARA - let us look at this body that carries out a lot of good work in providing education, skills and trainings to help the poorer Malaysians survive and move up the socio-economic ladder. But alas, since its formation on 1/3/1966 by an Act of Parliament, its target group is just the Bumiputra. In line with Najib's 1Malaysia, maybe it is time to expand the work of MARA to also include other Malaysians - yes, all Malaysians irrespective of where their forefathers hail from.

MISI KORPORAT

Mandat, Wawasan dan Nilai Bersama adalah bertujuan untuk dihayati dan diamalkan oleh semua anggota MARA ke arah mewujudkan sebuah organisasi korporat yang cemerlang, berdikari, berautonomi dan berwibawa.

Mandat

Dengan kuasa yang diberi, kekal turun temurun, MARA akan melaksana tanggungjawab bagi memajukan, menggalakkan, memudahkan dan menjalankan pembangunan ekonomi dan kemasyarakatan di seluruh Malaysia dalam bidang-bidang berikut:-

a) Perdagangan dan Perindustrian

b) Kemudahan Pembiayaan

c) Usahasama atau sebagai Agen Pengurus

d) Pelaburan Ekuiti

e) Penubuhan dan Pertanggungan Institusi Latihan

f) Apa-apa jua yang difikirkan perlu atau berfaedah oleh Majlis

g) Aktiviti tambahan yang mendapat kelulusan kerajaan, bertujuan untuk memajukan kaum bumiputera.

 

MOTTO

MARA terus mara

Wawasan

Menjadi sebuah organisasi korporat cemerlang, berdikari, berautonomi dan berwibawa:-

a) Pemegang amanah ekuiti

b) Penggerak dan pemangkin yang aktif

c) Pusat jaringan dan rangkaian perusahaan & perdagangan

d) Pusat maklumat, latihan, penyelidikan dan pembangunan

e) Sebagai organisasi pemikir.

Penyataan Amanat

"Menjadi badan amanah yang unggul dan diberkati untuk mengangkat martabat dan maruah bangsa menerusi pelbagai aktiviti ekonomi, pendidikan dan kemasyarakatan."

Anggota Organisasi :"Kami adalah golongan profesional yang amanah, jati diri, berdaya tahan, ukhuwah, penyayang & mesra serta beriltizam  kepada organisasi dan pelanggan."

Proses/Sistem : "Mengamalkan kepimpinan berjemaah, telus dan dinamik."

Organisasi : "Organisasi perintis, berwawasan, berdaya saing, cermat & berhemat serta adil."

Prestasi : "Memastikan pembangunan yang berterusan dan cemerlang."

NILAI BERSAMA
Anggota Organisasi
"Kami adalah golongan profesional yang amanah, jati diri, berdaya tahan, ukhuwah, penyayang & mesra serta beriltizam kepada organisasi dan pelanggan."

Proses/Sistem
"Mengamalkan kepimpinan berjemaah, telus dan dinamik."

Organisasi
"Organisasi perintis, berwawasan, berdaya saing, cermat & berhemat serta adil."

Prestasi
"Memastikan pembangunan yang berterusan dan cemerlang." - MARA Website, Misi Korporat

Its objective clearly states that its concern is only for the Bumiputra - this must be expanded to all Malaysians.

Its objective states that its focus is on rural folks - this too must change to focus on the poor and unemployed both in rural and urban areas.

OBJEKTIF

Menggalak, membimbing, melatih dan membantu Bumiputera, khususnya di luar bandar, supaya menyertai dengan aktif dalam kegiatan perdagangan dan perusahaan ke arah membentuk masyarakat usahawan Bumiputera yang berdaya tahan, profesional dan kukuh.

STRATEGI PERLAKSANAAN

• Mewujud serta menambah bilangan usahawan di kalangan bumiputera dan meningkatkan taraf mereka dalam kegiatan perdagangan dan perusahaan ke arah pembentukan masyarakat peniaga yang berjaya dan kukuh.

• Mengambil bahagian yang aktif dalam bidang perdagangan dan perindustrian tertentu melalui pelaburan dan pengurusan dalam syarikat-syarikat sebagai langkah memberi perlindungan untuk meningkatkan penyertaan bumiputera dalam dunia perniagaan.

• Menambah bilangan gunatenaga bumiputera yang terlatih dalam berbagai bidang di semua peringkat, khususnya untuk keperluan sektor perdagangan dan perindustrian, dan

• Menggalakkan lain-lain kemudahan dan perkhidmatan yang sesuai serta menjadi pemegang amanah yang boleh membantu secara khusus atau umum bagi meninggikan taraf ekonomi dan sosial bumiputera.- MARA Website, Strategy & Objectives
  

In my observation, MARA has the required infrastruture and the personnel required all over the country - and all that need be done is a variation of their target group to include all Malaysians, especially the poor and the unemployed.

The indian community still has a lot of poor and unemployed - and I do not believe that there is anything like what MARA has for the bumiputras for the Malaysian Indian community, and the other ethnic minorities.

There may have been efforts by other communities in the area of education...and higher education, but alas there seems to be lack of skills-training, business trainings, financial assistance and advice, etc which would be most relevant to the many of our Malaysians who may not be so academically accomplished. The rise of petty crimes is an indicator that cannot be ignored, and it is linked to poverty.

"Do not question the constitutionally provided special privileges of the Malays, native communities of Sabah and Sarawak..." is the Malaysian mindset. I believe the time has come when there must be definite questioning of these 'special privileges' as 52 years plus  have passed, and the required 'foot-up assistance' to this special group so that they stand at par with the other ethnic communities of Malaysia should have been here long ago, save if the UMNO led BN government have failed.

The special ethnic-based system has also failed as it seems that the richer have become richer, the politically connected have improved their situation - but alas, the really poor has not benefited much. The emphasis must shift to helping the poor and marginalized in Malaysia irrespective of their ethnicity or religion. That will be in line with the struggle for justice..

The changes that I have proposed for MARA may be one of the first steps that could be taken, as they certainly have the mechanisms for reform and change already in existence. Should there be ethnic quotas? No - the stress mush be to help the poor, unemployed and the marginalized groups of persons in Malaysia.