Tag: UMNO

Zaid Ibrahim: Malaysian Malays Must Stop Voting Among Race Or Religious Lines To Improve Government

KUALA LUMPUR — Malays can be strong, but they must stop voting along race or religious lines and instead choose a political party that will improve the government, former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said today (Dec 21).

The Malay community could not work in isolation and needed other races for it to strengthen itself, Mr Zaid said in a rebuttal to Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that Malay political power was weak that they had to “beg” from other races to win support.

“If they can make that quantum leap and embrace a political party which will make the government better, instead of choosing the defender of race and religion, that will further their cause.

“They must be willing to abandon the comfort of their own race or religious-based political party. That will mark a new beginning for us all,” said Mr Zaid in a post on his blog today.

He added that Malays would only weaken themselves if they took the cue from their leaders and pitted themselves against the rest of Malaysian society. The notion that Malays could be stronger without the other races “is the idea of UMNO”, he added.

“A nation’s progress is predicated on unity of purpose and optimising its people’s collective strength. This means that excluding non-Malays from the national agenda – as is practised today – actually weakens the Malays more than the non-Malays.

“Superficially, the Malays may be seen as the ones in control, but the reality is far different. The decision-makers who frame national policies may be Malays but they do not have the financial and economic tools to empower other Malays to succeed on their own.

“Consequently, future economic conditions will have to depend on Chinese money and human capital for it to be sustainable. If this analysis is proven correct, the only way the Malays can succeed is to collaborate and remain united with the rest of the Malaysian community.”

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir said Malay political parties had turned the Malay community into beggars to the Chinese, as they had to woo the non-Malays to secure enough support to win elections.

Dr Mahathir also claimed the divisions in the Malay community were to blame for its lagging economic performance.

He said the country’s aim to become a developed nation by 2020 would bring little benefit to the Malays because of their weakness and disunity.

However, Mr Zaid said today that the Malays’ economic performance depended on how united they were with other Malaysians, and not just among themselves.

“There is no evidence to suggest that people of the same group or ethnicity can ever be united and strong just by being on their own.

“They will just end up being insular and paranoid. In fact, there are many examples of communities growing stronger when they are united by diversity and a common purpose.”

He added that the situation in Malaysia could change if the moderates, especially the Malays, became more assertive and not allow right-wing groups, such as Isma and Perkasa, dominate the limelight most of the time.

“They must not expect that authoritarian rule to disappear without sacrifice and courage. Freedom, like breakfast, has a price.

“Indonesians have paid that price for democracy with their lives, the least we can do is to be prepared to be hauled up to police lock-ups once in a while.”

But he conceded that this was “easier said than done”, as Malays in business and in the government were hesitant to speak out and risk destroying their livelihood.

Soon after Dr Mahathir’s remarks yesterday, Mr Zaid has also tweeted a response: “Tun, Malays are supporting DAP because UMNO is no longer relevant and PAS more suited in Baluchistan”. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

Source: www.todayonline.com

December 22, 2014
Setiausaha Agung PKMS: Melayu Singapura Perlu Berjuang Berteraskan Kudrat Sendiri

PETALING JAYA: Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura, A Jamal Rashid mendakwa, kira-kira 15 peratus atau lebih 500,000 rakyat Singapura berbangsa Melayu menghadapi pelbagai isu diskriminasi.

Akhbar Berita Harian hari ini melaporkan, beliau mendakwa selain isu larangan pemakaian tudung, peluang orang Melayu memegang jawatan tinggi dalam organisasi juga disekat.

“Alasan yang diberikan, kononnya mengambil kira sensitiviti serantau. Walaupun sudah dibentangkan di Parlimen, kerajaan menolak dakwaan bahawa diskriminasi kaum wujud. Sektor awam paling ketara kerana dipelopori kaum bukan Melayu,” katanya.

Beliau berkata: ”Majikan mendakwa pengambilan pekerja dibuat berdasarkan sistem meritokrasi. Hakikatnya, sikap ‘pilih bulu’ seperti mengutamakan calon kaum Cina atau yang mempunyai asas bahasa Mandarin masih wujud walaupun selepas diminta diberi pertimbangan sewajarnya.”

Apabila ditanya sama ada benarkah dakwaan bahawa kepentingan dan nasib masyarakat Melayu di Singapura sering dipinggirkan, Jamal mendakwa menerusi media sosial, suara masyarakat Melayu terutama keluhan dan pendapat mereka semakin didengari.

“Sekolah Berprestasi Tinggi (ACP) di Singapura yang lazimnya dipelopori pelajar Cina adalah generasi pelapis di peringkat penggubal dasar kerajaan. Maka, mereka kurang berinteraksi secara langsung dengan Melayu sehingga mengakibatkan sesuatu dasar yang dirangka itu tidak inklusif,” katanya.

Jamal juga berkata, iltizam UMNO menunjangi perjuangan Melayu, institusi beraja dan Islam di Malaysia wajar dan seharusnya diteruskan kerana tambahnya, “Masyarakat Melayu Singapura sering mengambil teladan dan pelbagai usaha dirangka UMNO, supaya dasar sama boleh dilaksanakan.”

“Konsep wasatiyyah atau kesederhanaan diterapkan UMNO dilihat pendekatan terbaik bagi mengimbangi kepentingan Melayu di Singapura, di samping menjaga hak kaum lain,” katanya.

Sources: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category and https://www.facebook.com/pkms.org.sg

December 3, 2014
Visit By The Pope To Turkey Puts UMNO To Shame

KUCHING: The just-concluded Umno General Assembly was marked by racist slurs, religious intolerance and bigotry, observed Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, while Christians and Muslims elsewhere in the civilised world are reaching out to each other in peace and tolerance.

Anwar pointed out that Pope Francis, currently on a visit to Turkey, had been invited by Grand Mufti Rahmi Yaran of Turkey to pray at the famous Blue Mosque which was once a Cathedral when the country was part of the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire.

“The gesture by the Grand Mufti is unthinkable in Malaysia under Umno,” said Anwar who was on a visit to Kuching. “Umno leaders are taking backward steps in their relations with non-Muslims.”

Anwar noted that the media had described the Pope’s visit to Turkey as demonstrating “a powerful vision of Christian-Muslim understanding at a time when neighbouring countries are experiencing violent Islamic assaults on Christians and religious minorities”.

“There is a need to appreciate this move. It has relevance in terms of our attitude and the Umno General Assembly’s on relations with non-Muslims in this country,” Anwar said. “Pope Francis’ visit is a gesture that would go a long way towards blazing a trail for a new chapter on Christian-Muslim relations and mending the strained relations of the past.”

“Once we get past theological polemics, which more often than not puts a strain on inter-religious relations, the matters that bind these two great faiths could be reason enough for cultivating tolerance and respect.”

Pope Francis was radical, pointed out Anwar, as he preferred to relate rather than pontificate.

“That has made all the difference. He goes to Turkey not to preach but to reach out, very much in the tradition of Christ, with humility and peace to the Muslim world,” said Anwar.

Pope Francis’ genuine desire for understanding must be received warmly and reciprocated by leaders of the Muslim world, he added, but ruled out Umno taking a positive attitude on the Pope’s visit to Turkey.

Source: www.freemalaysiatoday.com

December 1, 2014
Video Of A Beheading Carried Out By ISIS Militants Aired At UMNO General Assembly

KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Delegates at Malaysia’s Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur watched in pin-drop silence as a short video clip of a beheading by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants was aired.

The clip, lasting about a minute, was shown during the winding-up speech by Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The video showed several men, believed to be ISIS militants, walking with their captives in a desert landscape.

Several people in the audience were heard gasping as the militants grabbed knives and placed them against the neck of the captives, who were made to kneel in front of them, before the clip abruptly ended.

Earlier, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said he would be leading the committee to draw up new anti-terrorism laws against such a threat.

He also said that he did not mind being labelled a hardcore Malay or an Islamic fundamentalist – all in the name of race and religion.

Despite this, he said his respect towards other religions remained strong and he would never reject those of other races living under the Malaysian sun.

“It is all right if people perceive me as hardcore because that means I am hardcore for the Malays and if I am known as a fundamentalist, I am so in the name of religion.”

Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein said the Bar Council was not the country’s sole authority that had the right to speak on legal matters.

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin, who is the party’s legal bureau chairman, said its newly-formed unit called Bonafide Friends of Umno had engaged legal practitioners and found that many lawyers agreed with the party on issues such as the Sedition Act.

The Bar has been pressing for the repeal of the Act, calling it draconian.

“The right to speak on legal matters is not the exclusive right of the Bar Council. It is the right of all Malaysians,” he said.

Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said between June 2013 and September this year, the party registered 5,939 new voters, MCA (256), MIC (266) and Gerakan (373).

“However, this pales in comparison with that of Opposition parties with PAS registering 1,775 new voters, PKR (2,103) and DAP (9,309).

“The Umno president has ordered me to team up with all coalition components for a national movement to register new voters,” he said.

Mr Mohd Shafie highlighted a lack of coordination between religious institutions on Islamic affairs, especially on judgments made by the civil and syariah courts.

“There has to be a stricter enforcement, which would not allow any party to take advantage.

“For instance, the National Fatwa Council and state religious councils should work together,” he said.

He referred to verses in the Quran, which called on Muslims to uphold their faith while at the same time respect other religions.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

December 1, 2014
Khairy Jamaluddin: Do Not Question Special Rights Of The Malays

KUALA LUMPUR — Non-Malays should never again dispute the special rights of the Malays and the position of the rulers, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said today (Nov 26), adding that Malays themselves never questioned vernacular schools and the citizenship of non-Malays.

He said in his policy speech at the party’s general assembly that the Malays had “accepted and they had never questioned” the social contract they agreed upon during the formation of Malaysia. “If the Malays can accept it by not raising the matter of citizenship and acknowledging that we cannot shut down vernacular schools, why are there those among non-Malays who refuse to honour what they have previously agreed upon?

“Why are there those who ask for the Malay special privileges to be stopped, those who dispute the position of the Malay rulers and even those who cannot speak a word of the national language?

Mr Khairy said it was a huge sacrifice for the Malays to allow other races to be a part of the country, so non-Malays must keep their end of the bargain and not question Malay rights: “So great were the sacrifices of the Malay people, and all that we ask in return is for the non-Malays to accept several of those matters which I just brought up as the other end of the bargain.”

Mr Khairy also defended the existence of vernacular schools, saying that they were allowed as part of the “status quo” which had “existed pre-Independence, and which will continue to exist”.

Despite Mr Khairy’s statement, some UMNO grassroots leaders have in the past few months demanded that Chinese and Indian schools be shut down for the sake of national unity. Last Sunday, a coalition of 58 Malay-rights groups repeated the call, and even urged Putrajaya to silence “radical” education organisations like Dong Zhong with the threat of de-registration.

Mr Khairy conceded today that there were “fringe voices” questioning the existence of vernacular schools, but stressed that the UMNO leadership has long accepted the current education system.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, however, said Mr Khairy is now travelling the “dark road” of extremists like Perkasa and its president Ibrahim Ali.

Mr Lim said UMNO was no longer the future hope for Malaysia as even Mr Khairy, whom Mr Lim described as a “sober voice” in UMNO, was playing the racial and religious card by warning non-Malays not to challenge the “special rights” of Malays.

“He (Khairy) has taken the dark road travelled by extremists like Perkasa and Ibrahim Ali, when he used his policy speech at the UMNO Youth assembly to blame the non-Malays for questioning the status of the rulers, special position of the Malays and official status of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language.

“Putting the blame on non-Malays is dishonest and evil politics by Khairy because it is simply false and malicious that the non-Malays questioned such rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” he said in a statement today.

Mr Lim, who is also Bagan MP and Penang chief minister, said Mr Khairy should be addressing facts and figures from reports about the incomes of Malaysian households.

The Malaysia Human Development Report 2013 revealed that 53 per cent of Malaysian households have no financial assets while one in three Malaysians have no banking or financial accounts of any kind. It also showed that rural households have the highest number of those without any financial assets (63 per cent), compared to 45 per cent of urban households.

By ethnic group, about 57 per cent of non-Malay Bumiputeras and 55 per cent of Malays have no financial assets, with the figure for the Chinese and Indians at 45 per cent and 44 per cent respectively. Almost 90 per cent and 86 per cent of rural and urban households respectively had no savings, the report had said, citing the Household Income Survey (HIS).

Mr Lim asked why Khairy had not addressed the report, which was sponsored by the Prime Minister’s Department, since it had a direct impact on the economic future of Malaysians, especially youths including Malays and Bumiputeras. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

Source: www.todayonline.com

November 27, 2014