ABSTRACT
This chapter evaluates affirmative action outcomes in Malaysia. In higher education, the country has massively increased Bumiputera higher-educational attainment, predominantly through public institutions, admissions mechanisms and financial sponsorship. However, disparities between Malay and non-Malay Bumiputera persist, and the system has fallen short in cultivating capability and incorporating preferences based on socio-economic disadvantage. In high-level employment, the public sector and government-linked companies (GLCs) have substantially contributed to Bumiputera presence in professional and managerial positions. In the enterprise development, the shortcomings are more pronounced. Bumiputera under-representation remains acute in terms of owning and operating private companies, especially at the medium and large scale, although Malays have come to occupy a considerable presence in leadership of GLCs and large companies. Preferential programmes in public procurement, loans and business support have yet to make the desired breakthrough. In wealth and property ownership, Malaysia has fallen short of official targets, but the empirical evaluation is also persistently mired in debate. Certain affirmative action programmes have been, and remain, vulnerable to patronage and personal enrichment, but the regime as a whole extensively provides opportunities to Bumiputera masses. The regime has fallen short most importantly in the ultimate goal of broadly developing capability and competitiveness.
