KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 – Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin tonight called for an end to racial debates and warned parties not to question Malay and Bumiputera special rights, as laid out in the Federal Constitution.
“Racial debates must stop, not tomorrow or the day after, but now. Let there be no groups that question Malay and Bumiputera special rights,” Muhyiddin (picture) told some 2,400 Umno Wanita, Umno Youth and Umno Puteri delegates at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here.
“Debates about racial issues without limits can incite provocation that will ignite racial sentiments. Surely we do not want a spark of anger to set off an explosion that destroys all the peace, prosperity and unity we have built.”
“Umno’s reluctance to openly condemn allegedly racist statements by two school principals and a National Civics Bureau (BTN) official have sparked intense public debate in recent months over the party’s commitment to the prime minister’s inclusive 1 Malaysia concept.
Reprising his role as defender of Malay rights in Umno’s two-faced strategy to appease Malay and non-Malay voters alike, Muhyiddin stressed that Malaysia’s rapid progress owed much to the “social contract” hammered out by the country’s founding fathers.
However, the party deputy president denied that Umno’s fight to uphold this “inclusive” social contract agreed upon by Umno, MCA and MIC following independence was racist, as detractors have claimed, arguing that the social contract guaranteed minority rights as much as it did Malay rights.
“Racial rights... are fought for within the framework of understanding that all races are guaranteed rights and equal treatment,” he said.
“In this context, the race-based politics practised by Umno is not a form of racist politics. Racist politics means we only place importance on our own race and oppress other races.”
Muhyiddin said that, while the Malay ruling party has never lost sight of its struggle to uplift the Malays, it also understood that sharing political power and economic spoils between races was the best way to ensure peace and prosperity in multi-racial Malaysia.
Cashing in on Umno’s track record at the helm of Barisan Nasional (BN), Muhyiddin said the party’s success in steering the country away from the violent racial conflict which marked other nations as proof that it was as pragmatic as it was idealistic when it came to fighting for Malay rights.
“History bears witness that, when Umno leads, not only Malays benefit, but other races as well,” he said.
The Pagoh MP hit out at Pakatan Rakyat (PR) for not being equally principled, claiming the power-hungry opposition coalition was “like a chameleon” that only knew how to play to the gallery for short-term political gain.
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