Consultant Editor
KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — Datuk Zaid Ibrahim issued an open invitation today for Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to join PKR and reject what he says is the racism and fascism which has become prevalent in Umno.
Zaid, a former minister who was sacked from Umno, said in a posting on his blog this morning that Tengku Razaleigh was the most senior Umno leader who was not a racist.
The former minister, who joined PKR recently, also took aim at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for keeping quiet over the racial overtones displayed by Umno-controlled newspapers over the controversial death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock.
“Only a Malay prime minister who is not racist can save this country.
“Tengku Razaleigh is a strong nationalist; indeed he is a pure Malay fighter but we never hear in his speeches anything which is hateful or racially insulting,” said Zaid.
Zaid also appeared to mock Najib in heaping praises on Tengku Razaleigh.
“He will not use the police and or the MACC to bring about the downfall of his political rivals. He will not appoint racists as newspaper editors. His wife will not be offended if her photograph does not appear in the newspapers.”
The remarks are a clear reference to the Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) accusations against the Barisan Nasional (BN) in allegedly using the police to aid in the recent power grab in Perak, and also the current anti-graft investigations of the Selangor government which has now been overshadowed by the suspicious circumstances of Teoh’s death.
Zaid also appeared to be referring to an article on Sunday in the Umno-controlled Berita Harian that was written by New Straits Times group managing editor Zainul Ariffin Isa.
Zainul had suggested that the opposition was using Teoh’s death as part of an agenda to weaken Malay-controlled institutions. He also criticised Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for questioning “those of his own race to act fairly”.
Zaid said that it was unfortunate that Tengku Razaleigh still harbours hope that he can save Umno.
“For me, Umno today is no longer the Umno which Ku Li fought for previously. I think it is better if Ku Li considers joining Parti Keadilan Rakyat.”
Zaid said that many Umno leaders and lawmakers could no longer differentiate their nationalist responsibilities from racist and fascist thinking.
“That is why they cannot save the country. That is why Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia constantly reflect evil philosophies of racial and religious hatred.
“It does not make sense when Umno leaders ask their media messengers to describe the anger and sadness felt by Malaysians over Teoh’s death as politicisation.
“They even describe the sadness of the public as something which is questioning Malay institutions. Since when is MACC a Malay institution? This is the kind of racial poison which has been absorbed into the minds of Umno’s leaders and media,” he said.
Zaid also expressed hope that the Malay community would not be “deceived by racial poisoning,” because he said the Malays were a noble and responsible people.
The Malays, he said, were also proud of their Islamic values which viewed with contempt any form of racism.
“When the Malays and their leaders reject racism and fascist thinking then only can Malaysia be saved,” he said.
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