The Legacy of Mahathir’s Policies: The Cost of National Unity

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Mahathir Mohamad is one of the most influential leaders in Malaysia’s political history. During his tenure (1981–2003, 2018–2020), he implemented a series of “Malay-first” or Bumiputera policies aimed at uplifting the economic status of the Malay majority. While these policies produced short-term benefits for certain segments of society, they also deepened ethnic divisions, widened social inequality, and encouraged cronyism and corruption, leaving long-lasting effects on Malaysia’s governance and economy.

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Economist says NEP benefits political elite, not ordinary Bumiputeras

PETALING JAYA: The New Economic Policy (NEP) and other pro-Bumiputera privileges have largely benefited political cronies rather than the wider Bumiputera community, says economist Barjoyai Bardai, who urged a shift from dependency to competitiveness and self-reliance.

He told FMT that most Bumiputeras, especially those in the B40 group, regard these privileges as “practically non-existent”.

Barjoyai said while some still hope that a future government might genuinely uplift small and micro Bumiputera businesses, many now see the NEP and similar policies as “dirty words” that undermine their credibility as entrepreneurs.

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