Malaysia's Penang Chief: No to Affirmative Action

Malaysia's opposition-held state of Penang will no longer follow the nation's controversial affirmative action policy.

Malaysia's opposition-held state of Penang will no longer follow the nation's controversial affirmative action policy in state government administration, Penang's new chief said on Tuesday.

"We will run the government administration free from the New Economic Policy that breeds cronyism, corruption and systemic inefficiency," said Lim Guan Eng, whose Democratic Action Party won control of the state at weekend general elections.

Under the policy, majority ethnic Malays, whose politicians dominate the ruling national coalition, receive preference in terms of state contracts, jobs and financial assistance.