PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stole the limelight at the 2024 Bumiputera Economic Congress (KEB) when he paid a surprise visit to the event.

The prime minister was supposed to only attend KEB on Saturday but decided to tour the event today.

He was the centre of attention when he walked in on a panel session and sat at the media section to listen to the discussion.

Panellists at the session entitled "Unity Aspiration Strengthens the Bumiputera Agenda" included Plantations and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Deputy Investment, Trade and Industries Minister Liew Chin Tong and Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk R. Ramanan.

Anwar also took some time to visit the booths for various ministries and government agencies, including Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and Mimos Bhd.

However, he left the venue without addressing the media.

Anwar is scheduled to deliver a speech at the closing ceremony on Saturday.

The Economy Ministry, in collaboration with the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, is hosting KEB 2024, themed "Positive, Progressive, Innovative", at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) for three days.

KEB 2024 focuses on 10 clusters covering 10 sectors, namely Education Reform and Human Capital; Institutions of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (Main Career Choice) and Strengthening of Halal Industry and Rural Development and Empowerment of Orang Asli Communities.

Other clusters are Wealth Creation and Corporate Dominance; Competitiveness of Bumiputera Enterprises; Mastery of New Technologies; Felda and Federal Territory Land; Socioeconomy of Sabah Bumiputera and Socioeconomy of Sarawak Bumiputera.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at one of the booths at the Bumiputera Economic Congress at Putrajaya International Convention Centre. With him is Majlis Amanah Rakyat chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (right). NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at one of the booths at the Bumiputera Economic Congress at Putrajaya International Convention Centre. With him is Majlis Amanah Rakyat chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (right). NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH