The strategy to reduce poverty consisted of three major components (Shireen, 1998). The first was to improve the quality of life of the poor by improving the provision of social services to them such as housing, health, education and public utilities. The second was to increase the income and productivity of the poor. This was to be done by expanding their productive capital and utilising the capital efficiently by adopting modern techniques and the provision of better facilities such as land, replanting and redevelopment of crops, irrigation, introduction of new crops, and improved marketing, credit, financial and technical assistance. Finally, to increase employment opportunities for inter-sectoral mobility out of low productivity areas and activities. In this regard, the necessary education, training, financial and technical skills would be provided to facilitate the movements into the modern sector of the economy. With regard to the second objective, it was to be achieved through the restructuring of the employment pattern, ownership of share capital in the corporate sector, and the creation of a Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial Community (BCIC). The creation of BCIC was regarded as important since this would ensure a meaningful participation of the Bumiputera in the modern sector of the economy. Thus, the NEP envisaged restructuring of society in three levels. First, to increase the share of Bumiputera employment in the modern industrial sectors. Second, to increase the Bumiputera share in corporate ownership, and third, to increase the number of Bumiputera entrepreneurs and Bumiputera managerial control. The targets of the NEP with regards to its objectives are shown in Table IV.1 below.