KUALA LUMPUR: The government is free to form any policies that support vulnerable communities or the bumiputra community but it should not be at the expense of non-bumiputras, says Datuk Heng Seai Kie.

       The Wanita MCA chief said allowing someone to take advantage of another's success easily will stir feelings of dissatisfaction because it goes against the spirit of a free market.

       “In time, local businesses may lose faith in our nation and lead to an exodus, which would be disastrous considering the context of our current pandemic-struck economy,” she said in her speech at the 46th Wanita MCA annual general meeting on Saturday (Dec 18).

       Heng said this in response to the government’s directive requiring freight forwarding companies to have 51% bumiputra equity.

       She pointed out that the requirement is not only unfair to local freight forwarding companies but also goes against the nation’s objective of creating a business-friendly environment that supports local companies.

       The fact that foreign companies and listed companies are exempted from this rule only serves to oppress local companies while increasing overseas operations' competitiveness, she added.

       “We urge the government to revoke such guidelines and focus on building business-friendly, transparent and merit-based policies, in order to stay competitive internationally in the days ahead,” she said.

       Heng also said Wanita MCA supports the government in implementing Budget 2022 and activating a series of national recovery plans as this will help local SMEs survive and recover.

       Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Heng said, it has become clear that the digital economy will become key to the future of business as e-commerce has thrived and expanded aggressively during the economic downturn.

       “I urge entrepreneurs to take advantage of the government’s various policies and incentives to restructure and transform their business,” she said, adding that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will also help entrepreneurs expand their market in the digital space.

       Heng also called on the government to address laws and policies which are discriminatory towards women.

       She cited examples where this had been done, such as the amendment of Article 14(1)(b) in the Federal Constitution from “father” to “father or mother”, raising the legal minimum age of marriage to 18 years, reintroducing Article 88A which prohibits unilateral conversion of minor children, and amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.

       Additionally, Heng also said the wing gives its full support to the 12th Malaysia Plan, noting that the nation’s economy can continue to recover and grow following the pandemic.

       She suggested that the government reintroduce the goods and services tax (GST) system to replace sales and service tax (SST) at a reduced rate of 2% to 3%, restart the Kuala Lumpur–Singapore high-speed rail project, and establish a specialised pandemic relief centre, among others.