The development of Malay entrepreneurship in Malaysia : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Business at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
Loading...
Date
2009
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Massey University
Rights
The Author
Abstract
Since the institution of the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1971 and beyond its end
in 1990, the Malaysian government has had mixed successes in developing Malay
entrepreneurship. Despite on-going of privileges and assistance and the government’s
concerted efforts and initiatives, Malay entrepreneurship still continues to lag behind
that of the Chinese.
This study centres on the challenges faced by the Government of Malaysia in the
promotion of Malay entrepreneurial development. Based on interviews with diverse
people, both within and outside the government, the study reveals that Malay
entrepreneurial development is a complex process confronted by many issues and
problems. The study also reveals that government privileges and assistance to Malays
to promote entrepreneurship do not help much in boosting an entrepreneurial culture
nor do they help them in enhancing entrepreneurial competitiveness and achievement.
Instead, such privileges and assistance have conversely made the Chinese more
resilient and competitive entrepreneurially but discriminative against the Malays. This
conclusion confirms the proposition that “state assistance in the form of an affirmative
action to an economically-challenged sector of society does little to create
entrepreneurship; rather it challenges rival economic groups to sharpen their own
competitiveness”.
Finally, the study is able to indicate that Malay entrepreneurship differs slightly from
the conventional Western concepts of entrepreneurship. The differences are largely
due to the historical background of the Malays as a communitarian society; as
Muslims; as a society still divided along class lines and as a status conscious
community.
Description
Keywords
New Economic Policy, Entrepreneurial development, Business competitiveness