Concerns over the sustainability of the Bumiputera economy must be taken seriously amid growing worries that more business sectors are being dominated by foreign workers and entrepreneurs.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu stressed that the issue was not directed at any individual or political party, but rather centred on the mindset and resilience of local entrepreneurs in sustaining their businesses.
“We need to look at how many barber shops that were supported by MARA to produce Bumiputera entrepreneurs have eventually been taken over by outsiders.
“If we say we do not want foreigners, why are they able to come from abroad and work in these sectors? So the issue of sustaining businesses must be given attention,” he said when commenting on concerns over foreign dominance in certain local business sectors.
Earlier, Mohamad officiated the Launching Programme for the Pineapple Harvest under the Smart Pilot Project for the Kota Raja parliamentary constituency on Friday.
He said one of the key challenges now is ensuring that any project or enterprise is able to survive in the long term, rather than growing briefly before disappearing.
“This is why I say that perhaps in five years, pineapple farms may no longer exist and be replaced by other crops, but what matters most is sustainability and continuity.
“We see some projects disappear after two or three years. That is what we are trying to address—how to strengthen sustainability,” he added.
Mohamad also cited aquaculture entrepreneurs as an example of long-term resilience, noting that some have managed to sustain their businesses for decades despite early losses.
“I have observed that Chinese entrepreneurs in aquaculture, even when facing losses and difficulties, continue to persist for 15 to 20 years until they eventually succeed.
“This is something we should reflect on together without blaming any party,” he said.
Meanwhile, he claimed that many small farms and businesses are increasingly being handed over to foreign workers due to a lack of interest among locals to run them.
“If you look in Kuala Lumpur today, phone shops, electrical stores and many other businesses are largely operated by foreigners.
“At Selayang Market as well, we can clearly see they control a significant portion of the business there,” he added.
