Malays Have Always Practised Moderation, Says Najib

SHAH ALAM, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The Malays in Malaysia since long ago have been practising wasatiyah or moderation and rejecting racism, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The prime minister said even before the country's independence, they were willing to share power and were fair to the other races, and as such, "never hurt the feelings of the Malays by trying to change what were enshrined in the constitution and what had been negotiated".

"We will defend these. The Malays do not want anyone trying to change whatever had been decided in the constitution and Malaysia must be built based on this constitution.

"We believe that within the framework of our constitution, whether expressed or implied, we can build a nation that is fair to all," he said at the Pekida Malaysia assembly attended by about 10,000 people at the Sultan Salahahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Polytechnic, here, Monday.

"We have adopted wassatiyah as our approach since long ago. We reject extremism. We have never been guided by extreme ideology," he said.

Najib said that the Malays had never been extremists and racists on their own land of birth, and instead had always extended a helping hand to the non-Malays in building a peaceful, united and prosperous country.

"As Malays, we have never been unfair to the non-Malays in this country," he said.

Najib said for this, the Barisan Nasional administration must prevail in order to build a more successful Malaysia based on the provisions of the Federal Constitution on the rights of the Malays and Islam as the country's official religion; matters which could not be disputed nor renegotiated.

"We see there is no other choice in safeguarding our future. Are those who offer an alternative to the people better than the current government? Can we guarantee that our power will not be diluted or the position of the Malays and Islam not be eroded?"

Najib said even if before they (opposition) could gain power they had already planned to destroy what the government had built all this while, then there would be confusion if they came into power.

"They have planned to reduce the number of civil servants, including teachers and army and police personnel.

"Who will be the victims if hundred of thousands of civil servants lose their jobs if the opposition could carry out their plan?

"They also want to change the Malaysian flag, defile the position of the Malay rulers and question policies to assist the Malays and other Bumiputeras," he said.

Najib said the people needed a government which was brave to uphold social justice and not a "justice party" as the former was more meaningful in creating a fair and balanced country where all including the non-Malays also received various assistance from the government.

"This is how we have administered the country and this is why God has allowed us to rule it for 54 years now. We are still in power and God willing, with the people's support, the coming general election will be ours to win.

"This is because BN has struggled for the people, has been fair and has never strayed from religious principles," he said.

Najib said as prime minister, he would do his best for the people and hoped that they would give their trust to the government in charting a brighter future based on realities, unlike some quarters who promised the moon, the stars and the universe.

He said thus far, the BN government's policies had, among others, changed the life of fishermen whereby one of their children, Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir from Pangkor island, had become Perak menteri besar.

The prime minister said the government would continue to strive in ensuring that more of the poor could be assisted in the field of education, and for that, the Tabung Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera was launched.