According to the Second Malaysia Plan, the NEP aimed to "create a Malay commercial and industrial community" through "wholly owned enterprises and joint ventures". Prior to this, the government had, in the words of a local economist, played "administrative, supportive, and regulatory" roles in attempting to address the economic imbalance, but avoided "representdirect and active efforts in promoting" Malay interests. Now, the government would not only "[limit access of the Chinese and Indian population to universities, public jobs and public money," but also actively intervene in the economy to give "Bumiputra a bigger piece of the business action". One criticism of this increased intervention was that UMNO supposedly "became a major beneficiary of the expanded role of the state".