Bumiputera (Malaysia)

Bumiputra or Bumiputera is a Malay name with the various ethnic groups are summarized, which are regarded as indigenous people in Malaysia. In addition to the Malays include Javanese, Bugis and Minangkabaus as well as some smaller ethnic groups such as the Orang Asli and Dayak. This term comes from the Sanskrit word Bhumiputra, which literally means " son of the earth" means ( bhumi = earth, soil; putra = son).

As a result of the bloody riots on May 13, 1969, new economic policy was introduced in Malaysia, the Malaysian New Economic Policy, which particularly against the Indian and Chinese Malaysians preferred the Bumiputras. This policy resulted in the cities to create a significant Malay middle class, but was less successful and created new resentments between the indigenous people and ethnic groups that are excluded from this economic policy among the rural population.

Cause of the riots and the subsequent new economic policy was particularly the economic dominance of the Chinese: With only 33 % share of the population, they controlled 90 % of the economy. Only one percent of doctors were Bumiputra and only eleven percent of the students came from their ranks. To restore civil peace, the government in Kuala Lumpur decided that " affirmative action program" that Bumiputra preferred in all areas of public life.