Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reaffirmed that Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) will remain a Bumiputera-specific institution, citing its alignment with Article 153 of the Federal Constitution. Speaking at the Kami Gen Mara gathering in Kuala Lumpur, Zahid emphasized that this mandate is rooted in the social contract established prior to Malaysia's independence. Mara was founded following the 1965 Bumiputera Economic Congress and formalized by the 1966 Mara Act to improve the socio-economic status of the community through education and entrepreneurship. While dismissing proposals to transform the agency into a dedicated ministry, Zahid maintained that empowering Bumiputeras is essential for balanced national development and stability, while ensuring that the agency continues to fulfill its original founding principles.