KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has taken a swipe at opposition-held states, saying that property prices in the states were too expensive for the bottom 40 (B40) Malays.

Azalina in a written reply in Parliament to Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh), said the integrity of Malays were being challenged and it was worrying that there was a low level of property ownership among Malays, particularly in Penang and Selangor.

“This worry has its basis, because what we see happening in Penang and Selangor, the cost of land or housing projects is too high and Malays, especially those in the B40 income bracket aren’t able to purchase them.

“This, indirectly, would cause low ownership of real estate assets among the Malays,” she said yesterday.

Wan Azizah had asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to explain on the position and integrity of Malays in the country, which was said to be challenged.

Azalina said although the ratio of Bumiputera to non-Bumiputera civil servants was high, the number of Malays in the private sector, professional fields and decision-making positions were still relatively low.-nst