PARLIAMENT The ability of the Malays to own property, especially those in the bottom 40 percent (B40), is being challenged in Selangor and Penang, the government said today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said made this remark when asked about allegations that Malay dignity is being challenged.

"Regarding the position of Malay dignity which is said to be challenged, there definitely is concern about the ability of Malays to own homes and property.

"This concern has basis, when we look at examples such as what is happening in Penang and Selangor, where residential land or housing projects being sold by developers are too expensive and can't be afforded by the Malays, especially the low-income group (B40)," Azalina said.

This has caused an erosion in Malay property ownership, she added.

Azalina said this in a written parliamentary reply to a query by Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who asked Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak about a report on whether Malay dignity was being challenged.

Wan Azizah also wanted to know statistics about Malay reserve land whose status has been changed, the ratio of Malay civil servants and Malay equity that has changed hands.

Azalina in response said Malay equity in the corporate sector, as of 2011, was at RM211.5 billion or 23.5 percent, lower than 30 percent Malay equity target set for 2020.

She also said that there were 1.6 million Malay civil servants, but defended the large figure by saying that Malay participation in the private sector was still quite low.

Malay dignity recently became a hot topic, after 50,000 people turned up for a protest to defend Malay rights on Sept 16.

The red shirts rally was held in response to alleged racial provocation from the allegedly Chinese-dominated Bersih 4 rally.