Malays given enough privileges to excel, says Zaid

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 – Kita president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim claimed today that his party would help save the Malays from complacency, pointing out that the community already has sufficient rights and privileges to excel.

The former Umno politician said in his keynote address at Kita’s grand launch this morning that the party would not condone the belief that the community deserved more rights than other races simply because of its constitutional position.

“For the Malays, Kita will not mislead you with a false sense of security by making you believe that you have more rights than the other races.

“We will tell you that you already have enough rights and privileges to excel; what you need is to improve your skills and competitiveness to face this 21st century,” he said when outlining Kita’s ideals during the launch.

He pledged that Kita would adhere to Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which underscores the special positions of the Malays but warned that the provision should not be used as a tool to discriminate against others.

“There is no country in this modern world that can survive if its people are segregated and broken into classes like what we are practising today.

“Kita will not allow the provision to be abused and steps needed to achieve the objective of the provision will be presented to Parliament,” he said.

Zaid, who recently quit PKR, added that Kita could help the Malays protect the community’s name by granting equal education opportunities to all and offering the best teachers to help them hone their skills.

“You will become successful individuals in the true meaning of the word. You will not need to unsheathe your keris so that others fear you or champion your origins in order to seem special.

“You will no longer be a mere definition in the Federal Constitution. You will be a true Malay in the Malaysian community at large,” he said.

Zaid also claimed Kita would ensure that Muslims achieved spiritual excellence as promised in Islam, pointing out that no one could strip a person of his or her religion.

“Islam must be led and nurtured by Islamic intellectuals and scholars with honest hearts and are merciful and compassionate as Islam is a caring religion.

“Bureaucrats, those who merely work for salaries and politicians are only able to pollute the good name of Islam by implementing regulations that curb and confuse and bring harm to religious harmony and tolerance in the country,” he said.

Zaid added that if the nation truly accepted the sovereignty of the Federal Constitution as its driving principle, it would be easier to find solutions to the many racial and religious conflicts faced by the country.

“Issues involving houses of worship, conflict over the jurisdictions of the civil and Syariah courts and many other matters continue to remain unresolved today.

“Islam, as the official religion, will continue to be respected and be restored to its rightful position if it is no longer politicised,” he said.