The Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Malay for Indigenous People's Trust Council; commonly abbreviated as MARA) is a Malaysian government agency. It was formed to aid, train, and guide Bumiputra (Malays and other indigenous Malaysians) in the areas of business and industry. MARA was formed on March 1, 1966 under the Rural and National Development Ministry. [1]
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MARA was formed by an act of Parliament in 1966. It had originally begun as the Rural Industrial Development Authority (RIDA), which was established by the British colonial administration in 1951, a program to provide economic assistance and support to Malay farmers and rural inhabitants[2][3] - this organisation was later expanded in scope and became the MARA in 1966. Although it is an autonomous government agency, it reports to the Minister of Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development, who appoints all the members of the MARA Council Members. Besides state-level offices in the 13 states of Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, MARA also operates three offices overseas — one in London, Washington, D.C. and another in Alexandria, Egypt[4]
Among other things, MARA offers loans to Bumiputra entrepreneurs. [5] Such loans may be repaid either in the conventional Western manner, or in the style of Islamic banking, depending on the borrower's preference. [6] MARA also offers entrepreneurship courses, vocational training, consultancy services, and assistance in marketing for Bumiputra entrepreneurs. [7]
MARA also constructs infrastructure, such as shoplots or factories, which are rented to Bumiputra entrepreneurs at a subsidised rate. These facilities are often constructed in towns or underdeveloped areas of the country, to encourage further development there. [8]
MARA also operates several junior colleges or boarding schools, and Universiti Kuala Lumpur. Previously, Universiti Teknologi MARA was operated by MARA but now it has become its own entity under the Ministry of Higher Education. The junior colleges, referred to as Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MARA Junior Science Colleges, often abbreviated as MRSMs), are operated by the Education & Training (Secondary) Department of MARA, whose stated mission is to "produce Bumiputra students of potential in science and technology".[9] Until recently, the MRSMs were only open to Bumiputra students. However, the Barisan Nasional government pledged during its campaign for the 2004 general election that the MRSMs would be opened to all. Eventually, they were opened, with a quota allocating 10% of all places in MRSMs to non-Bumiputras. [10] In admissions, preference is given to students from low-income families, rural areas and/or those living in squatter settlements in the cities. [11]
In addition to MRSMs and the UniKL, numerous vocational and professional colleges are also operated by MARA such as Pusat GIAT MARA & Kolej Kemahiran MARA. These vocational colleges give a second lane of higher education to students who not be able to continue their studies in universities. There are also Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA and German-Malaysian Institute.[12]
Scholarships are also offered to Bumiputra students for both local and foreign institutions of higher learning. However, students must specialise in certain professions, such as engineering, medicine or accounting. [13]