MALAY RIGHTS FULLY PROTECTED - PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak said the privileges
and rights of the Malays are fully protected under the Federal Constitution and
cannot be disputed, and this fact should be accepted by all races in the
country.

Najib, who is also the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) president,
said this fact was agreed upon by the founding fathers representing all the
races in the country when it gained independence.

"Even if the two-thirds majority is gained in Parliament, nothing can be changed
without the consent of the Council represented by the nine Malay Rulers.

"In other words, it would be pointless to quarrel and use this provision on
citizenship to threaten the other races because the provision enshrined is so
concrete even if an emergency were to be declared, it still cannot be touched,"
he said when delivering his keynote address at the Umno General Assembly 2010,
at the Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre, here. Umno leads the ruling
National Front (Barisan Nasional).

When delivering his speech with the theme 'Empowering the Race to Lead
Prosperity', Najib pointed out that efforts by certain groups to question the
position of the Malays as a race whose privileges are protected, had clearly
caused uneasiness and dissatisfaction towards the Malays who are noted for their
accommodating attitude.

"This feeling of discontentment has begun to spread and may destroy the racial
harmony which we have nurtured for so long," he said to loud applause from the
more than 4,000 delegates and observers.

Najib said that after gaining independence for 53 years and that Malaysians were
now facing relentless pressure on the main thrusts in racial relations which had
existed all this while, this national polemic could possibly pose a threat to
national solidarity.

"What poses a problem under these circumstances is that there will be tension
when history is ignored or forgotten as time goes by, or when there are
irresponsible groups who try to re-interpret all this to suit their interests or
narrow agenda," he said.

Najib said the Malays had actually made the biggest sacrifice to achieve
independence, when they were willing to share the ownership of 'Tanah Melayu',
which was their motherland, with the other races.

"The acceptance of citizenship based on the principles of 'jus soli' or the
right of place of birth compared to the principles of 'jus sanguinis' or the
right of blood, had instantly transformed the socio-political landscape of
Tanah Melayu for ever," he said.

Najib said if the disease on the doubts over the motive, trustworthiness and
sincerity towards each other still existed within the people in the country, it
could worsen and destroy what had been built by the past leaders for more than
50 years.

He said the people in the country should appreciate the concept of the 'loyalty
pledge' and respect the 'noble consensus' which saw the Malays and the
non-Malays willing to 'reciprocate' for their common good when championing the
country's independence.

"The non-Malays were willing to accept the principle on the special
privileges as contained in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.
Subsequently, in principle, the Malaysian citizenship was no longer based on
equality but had been adapted to the reality that existed for the sake of the
long-term national objectives and interests.

He said the position of the Malays and Bumiputeras and the interests of the
other races in terms of politics, had been enshrined as a national social
contract, printed in the Federal Constitution, and everyone now must respect
this noble consensus for national continuity and survival.

"They are securely locked in articles Chapter 3 on citizenship, Article 38
concerning the Council of Rulers, Article 152 concerning the National Language
and Article 153 which concerned, among others, the allocation of service and
permit quotas for the Malays," he said.

Najib said amendments to these articles could not be carried out without the
consent of the 'Council of Rulers' under Article 159 of the Federal
Constitution.

"They are further strengthened by Article 10 Clause 4, which empowers Parliament
to make legislations, prohibit any act that questions any article, rights,
status, position, privileges, sovereignty or the rights of sovereignty already
stated or protected by the provisions in Chapter 3, Articles 152, 153 and 181,"
he said.

Najib said such matters should not be discussed at any forum because it was
feared that any debate on them could cause uneasiness and incite 'primordial
instinct' between the various ethnic groups.

The prime minister reminded the people that history had proven that
regardless of how progressive a country or civilisation was, failure to handle the
primordial instinct preperly could lead to severe injustice.

"In the 20th century, we have been exposed to cases of punishments meted without
trial in the United States, the holocaust tragedy in Europe, the slaughtering of
Palestinians in West Asia and the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Rwanda.

"Imagine the outcome if every generation of Malaysians take the stand to
question the rationale of the national social contract which had been reached
through consensus by the past leaders," he said.

In his speech lasting one hour and 20 minutes, Najib said the continued trust
given by the other races should encourage the Malays to always improve
themselves and move ahead as the intermediary between the races.

"In the move towards modernisation and globalisation, the question on our
rights, integrity and origin no longer have any meaning if our race is backwards
and left behind. Automatically, the feeling of respect and hope that the others
place on us will also be dampened," he said.

Najib said that in order to achieve this objective, the party leadership had
drawn up plans and strategies to ensure that the party upheld the original
objective of ensuring the continued survival of the Malays.

He also said that in efforts to churn out Malays who were 'glocal' and
outstanding in the international arena, the weaknesses that led to the collapse
of the Melaka Malay empire 500 years ago must be used as a guide.

He said Umno would continue to prepare the Malays so that they would be armed
with knowledge and the right frame of mind to ensure the survival of the race.
-- BERNAMA



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