Umno delegates stick to the script
Zainon Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR (Sun Nov 14, 2006): The assemblies of Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri were tame affairs as their delegates heeded the warning of the leadership to stay away from personal attacks and contentious issues that can disunite the party.

They demonstrated their rallying around the leadership of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Umno president and prime minister and declared that they wanted him to continue to lead the party and the country.

Those who spoke called on party members to unite behind him and support him and the government that he leads in ensuring the success of the 9th Malaysia Plan and to fulfull the Malay Agenda.

It was a common thread running through the speeches of the leaders of the three wings and that of their delegates who spoke during the various resolutions.

All stayed clear from personal attacks and the public row between Abdullah and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad which had dragged on for six months.

Instead they dwelt on warning off those who were out to create disunity within the party and within the nation with outrageous claim of discrimination and suppression.

"We remind them against stoking the fires of disunity. We know who they are, we know where they are and what they are saying," said Pemuda leader Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein who had brandished the keris Panca Warisan before beginning his speech.

Wanita leader Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz and Puteri leader Datuk Noraini Ahmad, who would have to step down from her post soon "because of the age factor", called on party members to support the party president and the government to ensure the nation remained strong and united.

On leadership, Hishamuddin praised the stewardship of Abdullah as prime minister and Umno president. He said: "We give undivided support to the president who leads us; and respect and love to past leaders.

"To Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, we owe a debt of gratitude. To Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, (we say) continue to lead us!" Rafidah said "any individual" or groups who demand that only their voices be heard or their suggestions accepted are certainly going against the democratic practices of the party."

"I am confident that as long as the Malays love their race and are brave enough to defend their right and united in their struggles, including supporting the country's leadership...no one can shake us," said Noraini.

All spoke on the threat to Islam, the undermining of the efforts to achieve income parity among the various races and the exploitation of the new openness and freedom for their own selfish interests.

"Any action, whether in the name of religious freedom, freedom of expression or freedom of the media, will not be allowed to challenge the rights and position as enshrined in the Federal Constitution" said Hishamuddin.

Almost all the leaders and the spokesmen for the various resolutions spoke on the Malay agenda and the New Economic Policy and reminded those who harp on the racial equity ownership issue to desist.

They said everyone has a place in this country and Noraini said that the "social contract outlined in the Federal Constitution ensured us independence and gave individual races their rights in the country." At the Wanita assembly, almost all Wanita delegates who spoke called for the party regulations to be amended to increase the number of Wanita committee members at the division level from 15 to 20 and number of Wanita committee members at the general assembly increased from 20 to 30.

They have also proposed for all Wanita branch heads to automatically become delegated to the division level meetings.


Youth spotlight on 'questioning' of Malay rights

They came fast and furious, their delivery invariably laced with pantun and sometimes rib-tickling racy jokes.

For the 13 delegates picked to debate on issues of the day at Umno Youth's general assembly yesterday, the subject of their rhetorics expectedly reflected newspaper headliners - and the concerns of the grassroots nationwide.

Against the general debate on the Malay Agenda, a traditional favourite in any general assembly, delegates dwelt specifically on the perceived trend to question the rights and privileges of the Malays and the position of Islam.

The full force of the Youth movement was brought to bear on these issues, with punchy messages designed to influence national policies.

This is what the delegates said on the following topics:

Economy and the Malay Agenda:

Youth information chief Datuk Azimi Daim, in tabling the resolutions, set the tone with his call for the Malay Agenda to be made one of the main thrusts of the Ninth Malaysia Plan which was launched in March this year.

"The income disparity is not only between urban and rural Malays but also within regions of the country which show an obvious imbalance in terms of economic development.

Because of this, existing development projects have not brought about equal wealth distribution. I call on the government to renew commitment to attain the 30% bumiputra equity ownership target, and more importantly to come up with more effective strategies to ensure this is done.

"We should also look at why questions on the rights and privileges of the bumiputras are being raised by certain quarters now, even those from the BN family, when these are enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

"Umno Youth must be more effective, creative and proactive in defending such ights and privileges, as these are issues that make members jump.

"When certain issues come up, it is natural for the warrior blood in the veins of the Malays to become heated."

Razali Idris (Terengganu): There is no way for Umno to remain strong if the economy is weak. The Malay's economic growth is only about 2%, while the non-bumiputra's is at 6%.
"This wide disparity will create unrest and an incident like May 13 might repeat but this time, the parang will not fly." The special privileges enjoyed by the Malays should not be challenged. "An ants' nest should not be disturbed".

Mohd Zan Abu (Johor): "The National Economic Policy and subsequent policies were not effective in uplifting the Malay community.
"In this regard, the Malay Agenda should be strenghtened to be more effective.

"Whether it (the bumiputra equity ownership) is 18% or 40% is not the question. The fact is the Malays are still lagging behind."

Religion:

Mohd Effendi Yusof (Kelantan): "Those who spread rumours and sms that there are about 250,000 Muslims in the country who had apostacised should be detained under the Internal Security Act or the Sedition Act.
The recent sms incident in Ipoh created an uproar among the Malays and the Internal Security Ministry should use its powers to act against those who created this unrest among the Muslims here." On Article 11, he said if such groups and others including the opposition are allowed to do what they are doing, there will be rampant cases of apostacy. "The most surprising part is that many of our own Muslims support such groups. If we were to follow Islamic Law, such people should be killed, but we don't do such things here." He questioned what Jakim and the ulamas are doing about such allegations.

"Don't play with fire...we (muslims) will fight till the end."

Social Ills:

Mohd Zan Abu: "The rampant cases of drug addiction, lepak, bohsia and Mat Rempit, sees the need for more effective measures to be taken. Umno Putra should be praised for taking the initiative in coming up with programmes on Mat Rempit."
Mohd Effendi Yusof: "What happened to all the government agencies and institutions when there was a problem with Mat Rempit? Please help safe the Mat Rempit's...they are actually an asset to the nation."
Education:

Mohd Zan Abu: "The meritrocracy issue should be re-examined. We do not want future generation to blame us for not doing anything, when it mattered."
Muhamad Nor Dawoo (Perak): "The shortcomings in the teaching of Maths and Science in English should be rectified to prevent our children from falling through. Teachers who lack the necessary skills in teaching Science and Maths in English should be sent abroad for the necessary courses. To improve the education system, the examination marking system should be re-evaluated."

Hishammuddin raises the Panca Warisan, the keris that symbolises Umno's Youth's struggle, at the start of the assembly.

On those who create disunity:

"Don't wager the future of the nation in the hands of those who are bankrupt of ideas on politics of unity and harmony. We remind them against stoking the fires of disunity. We know who they are, we know where they are and what they are saying. We will ensure they have no place as leaders in the Barisan Nasional struggle."

On the Panca Warisan, the keris that symbolises Umno Youth's struggle, which he raised for the first time last year and again this year:

"I remember that in last year's assembly, the Panca Warisan triggered concern among non-Malays. So narrow is their thinking and understanding of the cultural heritage of our forefathers. Aren't they aware that all along, we have together upheld the concept of Unity in Diversity? The keris should not be regarded as a symbol of oppression of the non-Malays by the Malays."

On Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the prime minister:

"We give undivided support to the president who leads us; and respect and love to past leaders. To Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, we owe a debt of gratitude. To Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, (we say) continue to lead us."

On race and religion:

"Of late, certain quarters seem to be taking advantage (of the new climate of openness) to test the government's level of tolerance. Issues on race and religion are debated without considering rationally the effects on race relations. Criticisms, which should be constructive, are increasingly vindictive, meant to release frustrations and hatred and made with bad intentions and jealousy.

"Some are spreading falsehood and rumours and are instigating. Such developments hurt the feelings of the Malays and Islam. Don't toy with, question or challenge the position of the Malays and Islam in this country.

"Any action, whether in the name of religious freedom, freedom of expression or freedom of the media, will not be allowed to challenge the rights and position as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

"To those who call themselves Article 11, Umno Youth warns Ð don't try to raise issues regarding Article 11 and Article 121(A). Umno Youth is of the opinion that any questions and issues on Islam should be heard and judged by the Syariah Court, and not Civil Court, in line with Article 121 (1A). On the suggestion to form the Inter-faith Commission, Umno Youth urges the government to reject it outright."

On the Malay Agenda:

"The Malay Agenda in the National Mission should not be regarded as a zero-sum game, by saying only the Malays are benefiting and that the non-Malays are losing out. The non-bumiputras should be brave enough to admit that during the implementation of the New Economic Policy, they also derived benefits, either directly or indirectly, through projects in the various sectors."

On income parity:

"Although the bumiputras form the majority in this country, the income parity between bumiputras and non-bumiputras is still worrying. In fact, it is widening. For example, the income disparity between bumiputras and ethnic Chinese in 2004 is 1:1.64. Is it wrong if the government makes an effort to reduce this to 1:1.5 by 2010? Believe me, if nothing is done to address this situation, it will take 120 years to achieve income parity with the non-bumiputras, as mentioned by a group of researchers from Universiti Putra Malaysia.

On the NEP:

"Umno Youth reminds those who harp on the racial equity ownership issue to desist. If we don't want to talk about the concentration of wealth distribution in one particular race, then they should look into discriminatory practices in the marketplace, in particular the practice by some non-bumiputra companies which makes it a condition that one must know a certain language to get a job."