Humayun Kabir Dec 12, 09 4:25pm - MalaysiakiniPremier Najib Abdul Razak concept of 1Malaysia does not subscribe to Malay supremacy, which is feudalistic in nature and not in line with uniting all the races as Malaysians.
This is the clear message from Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz (left) to extremists who keep harping on Malay supremacy for political mileage and self interest.He said this when asked by Malaysiakini to comment on the current trend of some organisations and groups to play on the Malay supremacy theme, stirring up uneasiness, tension and fear among the other races.
The debate intensified when DAP Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran described Malay supremacy and the New Economic Policy at a recent parliamentary sitting as drawbacks that went against the concept of uniting the various races under the banner of the 1Malaysia concept.This sparked an emotional chain-reaction among various groups which have lodged several police reports against Kulasegaran for questioning the special rights of Malays and some even called for the revoking of his citizenship and deporting him to India.
Responding to this, Nazri said, "It is their personal right to lodge police reports but at the end of the day, this move will only be a setback for the 1Malaysia concept."We are now living in 2010 and I do not subscribe to the Malay supremacy," he told Malaysiakini after launching a new bus service from Kuala Kangsar to Ipoh at the Kuala Kangsar taxi stand this morning.
"It is ridiculous to harp on such an issue which is only regressive to the 1Malaysia concept. To me, it is only the 1Malaysia concept that matters and nothing else," said the Umno politician who does not mince his words when commenting on the issue."We should not split the 1Malaysia concept with statements such as Malay supremacy or Indian supremacy or Chinese supremacy.""Instead we should pool the positive aspects and business experiences of the Indian and Chinese communities to bring greater prosperity to the economy of our country," the Padang Rengas MP added.
The minister, who is in charge of parliamentary affairs, said it is common for each race in the country to fight for the rights of their individual community but at the end of the day they must be united for the betterment of the nation.
Old school buses
On another matter, Nazri said the government's decision on the ban of school buses which are over 20 years old will depend on the feedback from Puspakom on the roadworthiness of such vehicles.
"We have nothing against such vehicles as long as they are considered as roadworthy by Puspakom."He was responding to a news report that quoted the Federation of Malaysian School Bus Operators Association president Chee Ah Tay as saying that such a ban early next year will inconvenience many school-going children nationwide who commute on school buses.
Chee said the move should only be introduced in stages to reduce the hardships of bus owners as new buses cost about RM60,000.On another matter, the call by a taxi association asking for Nazri to resign from his ministry post for stating that taxis are like toilets, Nazri said, "They have shortcomings in their services which should be addressed in a positive manner instead of seeking cheap publicity through the press."As for the feud between him and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he said the matter is closed now as requested by Najib
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