KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — A draft amendment to the 1966 Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) Act is set to be tabled before the Cabinet within three weeks, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the timeline is significantly earlier than the previously requested three-month period, as the draft has already been completed and is now awaiting Cabinet approval before being presented to Parliament, according to Harian Metro.

“I was challenged to present it to the Cabinet within three months. With the support and backing of MARA and senior officials, I will present the new MARA Act within three weeks from today.

“I am not being boastful, don’t tell the prime minister. The MARA Act is ready to be tabled. We are post-independence children, and when responsibility is given, with the prayers of the Gen MARA community, we will prove that MARA will be even more excellent in the next 40 years,” he said.

He was speaking as the special guest at the Kami Gen MARA assembly at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) today.

Also present was MARA chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had instructed that the draft amendment be submitted to him within three months.

Anwar said the amendment aligns with seven thrusts under the 40-Year MARA Vision, aimed at strengthening the agency as a key driver of more inclusive, competitive and globally-oriented Bumiputera economic development.

Zahid added that the amendment will focus on governance in management, investment, education ecosystems, and efforts to produce more entrepreneurs while embracing new technologies for future generations.

He said the new law is designed with a long-term outlook, including preparations for the next 40 years and even up to MARA’s centenary in 2066.

He also agreed with a proposal to establish a MARA hospital to expand opportunities for MARA talent in the healthcare sector.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 — Amendments to the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) Act 1966 will serve as a legal safeguard to ensure the Bumiputera empowerment agenda remains intact and is not altered with every change in national or organisational leadership.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move is aimed at establishing a stronger governance framework and stricter regulations to ensure the agency’s direction remains consistent in upholding Bumiputera interests, free from political influence.

“We do not want Mara’s agenda to change simply because of a change in leadership. We want Mara to continue safeguarding the Bumiputera agenda regardless of who is in charge at any given time.

“I have set a deadline until the end of this year for the (draft amendments to the) Mara Act to be finalised and tabled in Parliament,” he said when speaking at the Mara 60th Anniversary Celebration here today, which was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said strengthening the act is crucial to closing loopholes and preventing fund leakages, as Mara currently carries a significant mandate with total assets amounting to RM23 billion.

He also aims for Mara to become a self-sustaining organisation capable of generating its own internal funds through strategic investments, without relying entirely on government allocations, by the time it reaches its 100th anniversary.

Earlier, Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, in his speech, said that the agency is now in the final phase of reviewing the Mara Act, which has been in place for six decades.

He said the move is aimed at establishing a stronger legal foundation to enhance governance and institutional management, ensuring the organisation maintains its integrity in the long term.

“The most important aspect we want to amend and lay the foundation for is to ensure that, although leaders may come and go, the core principles of governance and management are firmly in place so that misconduct, wastage and leakages can be properly prevented,” he said.

Asyraf Wajdi said the substance of the proposed amendments, along with the transformation plan, will be presented by Ahmad Zahid to the Prime Minister in the near future. — Bernama