Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Irmohizam said the Selangor state government would cause Bumiputera businesses to be squeezed out of selected locations if the group were to pay the same price for property as buyers of other races. — Picture courtesy of Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — The Selangor government will worsen the disparity between the Bumiputera and other communities if it eliminates the discount the former group receives for property purchases, Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Irmohizam Ibrahim said.

The Ummo supreme council member said the state government would also cause Bumiputera businesses to be squeezed out of selected locations if the group were to pay the same price for property as buyers of other races.

He further criticised the administration for the plan, saying that the measure was never raised at any point before the announcement regarding the removal of the 10 per cent Bumiputera discount.

“The state government should be supporting the Bumiputera in owning property and not oppressing them this way.

“The state government should emulate the federal government in always having initiatives to help all races to own homes without denying the interests of the Bumiputera in owning land,” he said in a statement.

Reports emerged yesterday that Selangor was extending the 10 per cent discount on property purchases currently enjoyed by the Bumiputera to all buyers of serviced apartments, small office/home office (SOHO) and small office/virtual office (SOVO) in the affordable category.

State exco Datuk Teng Chang Khim clarified yesterday that the discount was not being eliminated, but instead opened to all buyers regardless of ethnicity beginning next month.

The discount for Bumiputera property buyers was introduced in the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1971.