technically there is no longer NEP

"We are looking at new growth areas that we have not exploited, but the important thing central to the new economic model is the growth of human capital and that’s why we have a new cabinet committee under the Deputy Prime Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) to boost skills development through education."

Questioned how the New Economic Policy (NEP) would fit into this, he said: "You are making too much of this NEP because technically there is no longer NEP, only elements of affirmative action - but even that we are trying to ensure that it is more in tune with the dictates of the market. Our domestic policies will be more and more market friendly."

Earlier, in his speech, Najib said Malaysia’s new economic model under his administration is designed to propel the country from its current station as an upper middle income country.