KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia said Wednesday it will liberalize parts of the services sector, removing ownership rules linked to a controversial affirmative action policy for majority Muslim Malays.
Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was sworn in earlier this month, said that 27 sub-sectors would be liberalized “to attract more investments, bring in more professionals and technology as well as strengthen competitiveness.”
The areas targeted for liberalization are in the areas of health and social services, tourism, transport, business services and computer and related services.
Businesses in those service industries will no longer have to be 30-percent owned by “bumiputera”—a term that means “son of the soil” and takes in Malays and indigenous tribes.
The rule is part of the New Economic Policy (NEP), launched after 1969 racial riots, in an effort to narrow the wealth gap between ethnic Chinese—who control the business sector—and Malays, who dominate government.
”The liberalization of the services sector is pursued with the view of creating a conducive business environment to attract investments, technology and to create higher value employment opportunities,” Najib said.
”These efforts are expected to enhance the level of competitiveness of the services sector in the country,” he said in a statement.
— AFP
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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