BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Penang Bumiputera Development Council will be reactivated with former Prime Minister's Department Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) director-general Tan Sri Khalid Ramli appointed as its new chairman.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision was made at the first Penang Bumiputera Development Council meeting this year chaired by himself as a move to empower the socioeconomic aspects and human capital of Bumiputera MADANI in Penang.

"I want some projects, business opportunities, housing opportunities at this lower level, to be given priority and cooperation with the state government to accelerate the development of the Penang Malay community.

"But as I emphasised it must be in line with the priorities of the state government, so that if we say that some of the projects are for B40 then they must give opportunities to the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities so that the framework of our programme uses the MADANI government approach," he said.

The Penang Bumiputera Development Council is a platform for meeting members to consider proposals for the implementation of programmes and projects specific for Bumiputera in the state in order to expand and improve the level of achievement of the Penang Bumiputera community, especially in socioeconomic aspects.