Malaysia, growth and equity in a multiracial society / Kevin Young, Willem C. F. Bussink, Parvez Hasan; Abdul Rahman Othman penyunting edisi Bahasa Malaysia

This book is a product of the World Bank's economic work on Malaysia during the last several years. It reviews the performance of the Malaysian economy since 1960, discusses current issues, and assesses future prospects. Since 1960 there have been a number of noteable achievements. A marked increase in the level of investment led to a high and sustained level of economic growth. The public sector expanded considerably at the same time that the private sector grew vigorously. Financial stability and a strong external position were continuously maintained. There was also progress in social areas, especially in expanding opportunities for education and improving health conditions. Nonetheless, the gains from growth were not equally shared, and widespread poverty and income inequality persisted. The continued socioeconomic imbalances threatened national unity and prompted the government to introduce a new policy designed to reduce poverty and racial imbalances. This new economic policy is the focus of this book. A principal theme is that continued rapid growth of the population and labor force make rapid economic growth the keystone for achieving these objectives. In this light the report emphasizes the importance of having a policy framework conducive to a high rate of return in the manufacturing sector. It also recognizes that poverty will continue to be concentrated in rural areas.