The NEP's objectives, strategies and programmes to some scholars were
associated with development theories and concepts of the West. For example,
Baharuddin (1977)46 and Mehmet (1986)47. Nonetheless during the NEP period there
were considerable achievements. For example; the Gross Domestic Product growth
rate at 6.7 percent p. a. (Economic Planning Unit [EPU], 1991); poverty among
households reduced from 49.3 percent in 1970 to 17.1 percent in 1990 (with urban
households from 21.3 percent to 7.5 percent and rural households from 58.7 percent to
21.8 percent; and the restructuring of equity ownership (with the Bumiputra share of
ownership increased from 2.4 percent in 1970 to 20.3 percent in 1990).