Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) is targeting RM1 billion or more in sales by Bumiputera automotive entrepreneurs next year through efforts to expand their participation and ownership in the sector.
MARA chairman Dato’ Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dato’ Dusuki said the target was based on the agency’s current performance, with 534 automotive entrepreneurs recording sales of more than RM660 million this year.
“Of this number, we have offered more than 2,403 job opportunities. If we can drive this agenda together with our strategic partners, we can achieve that target,” he said after officiating the pre-launch of MARA Automotive Ecosystem (MATEC) 2026 at Busana Mara here on 30 September 2026.
MATEC 2026 is scheduled to be held in Bukit Jalil from Nov 27 to 29.
The event is a strategic platform to build connections, create opportunities and strengthen an ecosystem linking entrepreneurs, industry, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), technology, talent, financial institutions, government agencies and the market.
Asyraf said efforts to expand Bumiputera participation and ownership in the automotive sector should go beyond producing skilled workers to developing them into entrepreneurs and business owners.
He said TVET was also among MARA’s key focuses in ensuring a continuous supply of trained workers for the automotive sector.
Of MARA’s 395 educational institutions nationwide, 270 focus on TVET, while 30 per cent of its TVET institutions specialise in automotive-related fields.
“Of the 222 GIATMARA centres, almost all branches nationwide have programmes related to automotive,” he said.
Dato’ Dr. Asyraf Wajdi said the training offered ranged from basic skills to high-technology fields such as electric vehicles (EVs), while also allowing students and trainees to pursue higher education, including at Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and the German Research Institute.
He said automotive-related fields were among the most popular choices among Bumiputera students.
“MARA cannot operate alone, but must strengthen strategic cooperation with industry partners to expand Bumiputera participation across various segments of the automotive sector.
“We must create synergies and drive strategic cooperation with industry partners who have expertise in specific areas to expand Bumiputera participation across various segments of entrepreneurship, particularly in the motoring and automotive sectors,” he said.
Note: The article was published by the New Straits Times on 30 September 2026.
It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through its emphasis on TVET, entrepreneurship, job creation, automotive innovation and strategic industry collaboration.
