KUALA LUMPUR: It is time for the government to change its approach to helping impoverished bumiputras as its method of distributing welfare aid and subsidies is no longer effective, says Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak).

       Tajuddin said he was not against the distribution of aid during the Covid-19 pandemic, but warned that Malaysia was becoming a welfare state.

       "How much longer do you want to go with the welfare state (approach)? We have to move further. We want to be a developed country, a high-income country," he said during his speech on Budget 2022 in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 3).

       Tajuddin then called on MPs from all sides of the divide to "revolutionise their thinking" and "think big", which left several MPs in stitches.

       "We shouldn't just ask the rakyat to change, we as leaders have to change, including me, I want to change," he said.

       Khalid Abdul Samad (PH-Shah Alam) then stood up and interjected: "That would be the most accurate."

       Several MPs were then heard sniggering.

       Tajuddin then proceeded to conclude his speech, chiding the government over what he claimed were ineffective policies to uplift the bumiputra community.

       "I'm urging the government, finance minister and Cabinet to draft a new development policy, a policy that can ensure targets of bumiputra economic development are achieved," he said.

       Without mentioning names, Tajuddin referred to a senior leader who liked to criticise bumiputras.

       "He said Malays are lazy and undisciplined. Eh, come on man, if we have land, we have to sell the land so that new projects can happen.

       "We sell our equity and shares so we can expand our businesses. That is what others are doing.

       "The Chinese community is doing this, buying and selling. Every time they buy, they increase their assets. This is what we should be doing," he said.

       Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who was chairing the session then, told Tajuddin to wrap up his speech as other MPs were waiting to speak on the Budget.

       "Unfortunately, time cannot be changed. I have 12 MPs left," she said, chuckling.

       Tajuddin relented and proceeded to conclude his speech with a call for all MPs to revolutionise their thinking.

       "We have to change in a big way, we have to revolutionise our thinking, our brains... (there must be) mental revolution," he added, before yielding the floor to Mohamad Sabu (PH-Kota Raja).

       The ongoing Parliament meeting which began on Oct 25 will sit for 32 days until Dec 16.