The riots caused a major change in the government's approach to racial issues, and led to the introduction of an aggressive affirmative action policy strongly favouring the Malays, the New Economic Policy (NEP). The National Culture Policy, also introduced in 1970, emphasised an assimilation of the non-Malays into the Malay ethnic group. However, during the 1990s Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad rejected this approach, with his "Bangsa Malaysia" policy emphasising a Malaysian instead of Malay identity for the state. During the 2000s decade politicians began stressing "ketuanan Melayu" again, and publicly chastised government ministers who questioned the social contract.