Perkasa says no to dropping ‘race’ in forms

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Right-wing non-governmental organisation Perkasa is opposed to the idea of having the word “bangsa” (race) dropped from forms.

Its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said claims that having the word was an obstacle to realising the 1 Malaysia concept was something ridiculous and unreasonable.

“The 1 Malaysia concept espoused by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has nothing to do with the use of the word in forms.

“If the government bows to this demand, after this more demands will be made until they attain their objective of doing away with racial identities,” Ibrahim (picture) said today.

He was commenting on the proposal by 1 Malaysia Foundation chairman Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar that the time had come to do away with having to state one’s race in forms as it posed an obstacle to making a success of the 1 Malaysia concept.

Cheras Umno chief Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee also expressed reservations about the suggestion,

Writing on the subject in his blog, he also took to task Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan for favouring the suggestion.

He said Shamsuddin got it wrong because Najib’s 1 Malaysia concept was not about silencing one’s racial identity but the various races working together to bring greater progress for Malaysia.

Malay Solidarity Action Front chief Osman Bakar also held the view that one’s racial identity in forms should be maintained and this should not be viewed narrowly. — Bernama