KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- The New Economic Model (NEM) to be introduced will not abolish bumiputra rights but will focus on cooperation with non-bumiputras, the Parliament was told today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said the form of cooperation would be in politics and business promotions.

"We want joint-ventures where both parties, bumiputras and non-bumiputras, stand to gain," he said when replying to a question by Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) in Dewan Rakyat.

Mahfuz had asked about the position of bumiputras under NEM and measures lined-up to avoid a racial problem.

Nazri said the status and rights of bumiputras would not be abolished under NEM adding action would be based on the federal constitution and the law.

"We just want bumiputras and non-bumiputras to cooperate for mutual benefit," he said.

To a question by Datuk Billy Abit Joo (BN-Hulu Rajang), he said it was unnecessary to streamline laws to define bumiputras particularly those in Sarawak.

This was because bumiputras had been streamlined into three categories under the federal constitution namely the Malays, indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak and the Orang Asli.

Nazri said the federal constitution in use nationwide states clearly the categories of people recognised as bumiputras and that it is final.