Mkini 8:56AM Nov 28, 2014 By Susan Loone Malays the majority, will survive without Umno ===================================== The Malays would survive even if Umno is defeated, as they are the majority of this country, said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. He was responding to the Prime Minister Najib Razak’s speech at the Umno general assembly where he said that if Umno is defeated the Malays are damned. For those who are young, you must appreciate the fact that you must not allow these leaders to dictate or determine our future. “Dont let our future be in the hands of the corrupt few. You must have confidence and courage to change, said Anwar. Anwar, also the Permatang Pauh MP, was speaking in Penang at the Konrad Adenauer School for Young Politicians Meeting on Integration, Good Governance and Democracy in Asia last evening. He said some may be uncertain of change, thinking that BN or Umno can reform themselves or that Najibs transformation agenda may work. However, the conduct of their leaders at this weeks Umno assembly revealed that even the so-called liberals in the party has becomes extremely racist, he added. Anwar did not name the leaders but DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had hit out at Ummo Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin for allegedly playing the race and religious card at the AGM when he raised the issue of Malays joining the party, describing it as chauvinistic. Lim had chided Khairy (right), who is also youth and sports minister, he was often regarded as more liberal compared to his comrades. Until the AGM that is, when he reportedly warned the non-Malays not to question Malay special rights, reminding them of the promise made as part of the social contract when the country gained independence from British rule in 1957. To my mind this should give us enough courage, that we have a clear choice, to overcome fear, Anwar said. I am speaking here with confidence and a smile but in a matter of weeks, I can be a free man or I may be in jail, he added, referring to his second sodomy case, which is awaiting the Federal Courts decision. But our future can be determined by our common resolve. Bastion of Malays are speaking up ******************************************* Anwar said at times he felt disturbed when people ask why the Malays prefer not to change. There are Malays who would not sit back and condone corruption or racism, he insisted. I can see in their tweets and Facebook comments. Young Malays even those from universities which are supposed to be the bastion of Malays are speaking up, he stressed. He recalled the remarks of former American vice-president Al Gore (left), who said it was historical and a world record that Anwar managed to garner 52 percent of the popular vote in the last general elections. He said he had never seen this happen anywhere in the world where there is semi-authoritarian rule, no access to the mainstream media for the opposition, where elections are allegedly fraudulent, where about 400,000 voted one week earlier and their votes are kept in police custody. Anwar was then responding to a question by one of the participants of the session who asked how far would Najib go to allow right-wing groups - who often described themselves as defenders of Islam and the Malay race - dictate the countrys future. Anwar said jokingly, It is like Limbo Rock, the song made popular by Chubby Checkers, how low can you go? But he told the 40-odd audience not to generalise because these so-called defenders of the Malays and Islam hardly talked about hardcore poverty or lack of opportunism for the poor. When talk of the National Economic Policy (which provides opportunities for poor Malays), they happen to be in the top financial brackets and are doing extremely well, said the former deputy prime minister. He said such quarters are bigots who try to show how righteous they are but there is nothing religious about their lifestyle. If you are so racist, you cannot represent Islam, Anwar quipped. Umno failed the Malays ****************************** However, Anwar noted that in authoritarian rule, there is always a tendency to swing to the extreme when leaders are desperate. Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. Racism is the only game they can cling on to. Can they talk about governance? Or about ridding the country of corruption? They play the race card because you challenge them. They will say do not question their rights. Who are they defending? Anwar said Malays have been in power since independence and that Malay political power is Umnos power. Yet, they failed miserably in protecting the Malays, he said. After the two-hour meeting, Anwar met with the Penang chief minister at a ceremony to honour the Bukit Gedung Malay hawkers complex in Bayan Baru, which won a national award this year for cleanliness, safety and health. Accompanying Lim were Deputy Chief Minister II Rashid Hasnon, PAS deputy president Mohammed Sabu, Batu Maung assemblyman Abdul Malik Kassim and former state assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussein.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 05:59:11 +0000
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