Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says Penang can become a leading state in Bumiputera economic participation through strategic collaboration and innovation.
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants Penang to emerge as one of the best-performing states in Bumiputera economic participation through strategic collaboration among all Bumiputera development agencies at both the federal and state levels.
He said the perception that Bumiputeras in Penang lag in economic development should be corrected, as records and data showed that Bumiputera economic participation in the state was, overall, stronger than in most Malay-majority states in Peninsular Malaysia.
“There is a perception that Muslim and Bumiputera participation in Penang is weak, but the records and facts show that the overall performance of Bumiputeras in Penang is better than in most Malay-majority states in the peninsula,” he said.
Anwar said this when opening the Penang International Halal Trade Exhibition (PIHEX) 2026 and the Penang Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Gathering (HUBPP) at Seberang Perai Polytechnic in Permatang Pauh here today.
Also present were Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil, Penang Deputy Chief Minister I and Penang Halal Industry Development Council (MPIHPP) chairman Datuk Dr Mohamad Abd Hamid, and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din.
The prime minister said all Bumiputera development agencies in Penang should be aligned under a single strategic framework to ensure initiatives are implemented more effectively instead of operating in silos.
Penang Bumiputera Development Council (MPBPP) chairman Tan Sri Khalid Ramli has also been told to coordinate all Bumiputera agencies, regardless of their ministry or department, under the Bumiputera Economic Development Council to strengthen implementation, he added.
“I hope to receive a report within the next few weeks so that Penang can emerge as one of the states with the best Bumiputera economic participation in Malaysia, insya-Allah,” he said.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said Penang should capitalise on its position as the country’s semiconductor hub by expanding Bumiputera companies’ participation in the industry’s high-technology supply chain.
To support the effort, he announced an allocation of RM5 million for the Bumiputera Semiconductor Action Plan aimed at increasing Bumiputera companies’ involvement in the sector.
He said the initiative was not intended to replace existing companies, but to enable Bumiputera firms to establish themselves as part of the semiconductor industry’s supply chain.
Earlier, Mohamad said Penang recorded an increase in holders of the Malaysian Halal Certification (SPHM) from 1,098 in 2024 to 1,191 in 2025, while 853 certificate holders had been recorded as of July 14 this year.
