Zaid lucky to be born a Malay, says Syed Hamid

• Zaid hits back at critics • Ex-minister called 'a traitor to race' • Pakar gesa Zaid keluar dari Kelantan, Malaysia • Zaid not going to apologise for Ketuanan Melayu statement ©New Straits Times • I will not apologise, says Zaid PUTRAJAYA: Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said historical realities must not be questioned to prevent potential issues from cropping up. Elaborating on his call for Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to apologise for his remarks on the concept of Malay supremacy, Syed Hamid said the former minister in the Prime Minister's Department should extend the apology to all Malays in the country. "It (the apology) is a simple statement that he should make. He should tell them (Malays) that it was not his intention to make them angry or hurt their feeling as the realities are all there," the home minister said. Zaid should realise that in practising freedom of speech, he should not go to the extent of hurting the feelings of Malays, he said. "If he does, then issues will start arising. So, those historical realities must never be questioned. Let us look forward. "If you say that the concept of Malay supremacy has failed, then Zaid will not be what he is today. He is fortunate he was born a Malay," he said after launching a forensic level security control system, NexCode, here yesterday. On Friday, Zaid was reported to have said that the concept of Malay supremacy had failed and was a distraction from the real issues confronting the country. I will not apologise, says Zaid KOTA BARU: Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said yesterday he will not apologise for his remarks on Malay supremacy. He said the concept did have negative elements and racist traits. "Many Malays want their achievements to be respected and recognised based on their abilities. "Malays have extraordinary abilities and they do not have to be arrogant that they have more rights than the other races. "It does not mean that I am questioning the Federal Constitution. The problem is that the so-called Malay champions could not differentiate between rights and privileges. "Maybe because of the (Umno) party's election season, many, especially those contesting the vice-president's posts, want to gain support by giving their own interpretations of my statement." In his statement yesterday, Zaid said as a Malay kampung boy from a poor family, he wanted to see Malays advance in economy and education.