Najib to BN leaders: Discuss Ketuanan Melayu issue internally

Najib to BN leaders: Discuss Ketuanan Melayu issue internallyHusna Yusop and Timothy Leonard
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1, 2008): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today sought to contain the contentious debate on the ketuanan Melayu issue, telling Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders to solve their internal problems through the party channel instead of issuing public statements.The BN deputy chairman said the open exchange does not benefit the coalition as it would give the public the impression that the coalition is facing a lot of problems.
“I don’t deny the right of BN members to voice out their respective views but it must be done wisely so as not to disadvantage BN and we end up seen as being in conflict all the time,” he said after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Sports Development in Parliament.
Referring to the various statements made by BN component party leaders in recent days, in particular on the Malay supremacy issue, Najib said it is better for internal party problems to be solved the BN way.
“The rakyat must understand that if they (statements) were not reported in the newspapers, not necessarily it was not discussed. All this while, they (leaders) were accused of not doing anything. That prompted them to make open statements. When this happens, it becomes something unhealthy. So, they were in a dilemma. For me, the best way is to use the BN channel,” he said.
At another function, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat urged all parties to stop playing the racial card and instead concentrate on economic issues which are more important in the national agenda.
He told reporters this in response to today’s protest by the Young Malay Graduates Coalition (GGMM) of MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s recent comments on the concept of Malay supremacy.
“As a democratic party in a modern world, we accept this matter (protest) with an open mind,” said Ong. “But we also have our own mind…and our own stand."
He reminded all quarters that he had repeatedly said the MCA upholds the Federal Constitution. However, he said the party does not condone racial domination.
Ong was on a working visit to Keretapi Tanah Melayu's rail workshop in Sentul today.
A group of GGMM members, lead by its president Khairul Azam Aziz, had marched from the Ampang Park LRT station to Wisma MCA in Jalan Ampang to deliver a notice of demand to Chua, asking him to pay RM2 million in compensation for allegedly questioning the special position of the Malays.
Khairul asked for Chua to apologise to the Malays and threatened to take him to court on Wednesday if he failed to do so.
Chua had on Sunday said he stood by his view regarding the concept of Ketuanan Melayu, or Malay supremacy, despite heavy criticisms from Umno leaders.
He reportedly said he accepts Malay leadership but and not Malay supremacy.
But Umno responded that race relations issues should not be openly discussed.
Earlier, after the Economic Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the main challenge in the near future is to save the country from the world economic crisis so that it would not fall into recession, therefore, the government’s main concern is to generate as much economic growth as possible.
“We do not deny that our market has been affected and our real economy also has faced very severe economic pressure. We will be facing an uncertain future. But Alhamdulillah (thank God) we could still survive. Although our growth is slow, there has been no adverse effect such as companies going bankrupt in massive form and unemployment. The inflation situation also has slowed down,” he added.
He said Malaysia is on track to achieve at least a 5% gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year if the fourth quarter growth hits at least 1.4%.
“This is based on the 4.7% growth in the third quarter. So, we are still within our target for a 3.5% growth in 2009,” he said.
However, he said, this growth will depend on the effective implementation of the RM7 billion stimulus package and on condition that the external environment does not worsen.
On alleged Malaysian links to the Mumbai terrorist attacks, he said they were “unsubstantiated and without evidence” but the police have been in touch with the Interpol and are awaiting further details.
Najib also said the council was briefed on the crime situation by Inspector-General Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan in a special presentation also attended by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
“The police were informed by the council that the public, especially those in business and tourism, are hoping for the police to improve their effectiveness. It does not mean the police are not committed in their work. The council understands police have played its role seriously but there are still some things that could be done to improve police image and increase public confidence in the police and security situation,” he said.
Najib said according to the briefing, Malaysia has a lower per capita crime rate than Hongkong and Japan but public perception was otherwise.
Updated: 08:31PM Mon, 01 Dec 2008