Introduction Poverty alleviation has always been an agenda of the Malaysian development strategy.However, prior to 1970, there was no explicitly stated objective of poverty reduction in thedevelopment plans. Moreover, while the policies implemented during this period were able to attainsatisfactory growth, they failed to improve equity or significantly eradicate poverty. This growinginequality--overall as well as along intra-ethnic lines--and persistent poverty was said to be one ofthe proximate causes of the May 1969 "race riots" which culminated in the proclamation of the NewEconomic Policy (NEP) in 1970, which sought to "eradicate poverty among all Malaysians and torestructure Malaysian society so that the identification of race with economic functions andgeographical location is reduced and eventually eliminated, both. objectives being realized throughthe rapid expansion of the economy over time" (Malaysia, 1976: 7).
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