Author: Terenze Gomez.  Why the continuing fixation with numbers when many Malaysians, among them even members of BN component parties, have questioned the veracity of these government-released ownership figures? Even if Bumiputera equity ownership is increased to 30%, would this mean that wealth has been more equitably distributed among members of this community or between them and other Malaysians? And, most importantly, should we continue to perpetuate a discourse on equitable wealth distribution among Malaysians along racial lines?

Author: Mohammed Ariff. Publication/Conference: MIERScan, 14 January 2008

In the Malaysian context, economic growth and income distribution have been the two sides of the same coin. Economic growth is thus crucial for successful affirmative action. The improvements in income distribution, both intra- and inter-ethnic, in the early years of the NEP were attributable in no small measure to the rapid growth of the economy. However, to the extent that economic growth was input-driven, not productivity-driven, this was not sustainable.

Author: Azly Rahman.  Abstract: The New Economic Policy (NEP) owes it genesis to a vision that sought to redistribute wealth among Malaysia's races and create a Malay middle class. Today, there are a significant number who believe that most of the benefits have gone to upper and upper-middle class Malays. As a whole, a vast swath of the Malaysian middle-classes remain relatively poor. It is the urban lifestyle has brought this group to such a level - like America's middle-class, they are riddled with credit card debt and face rising costs of living.