Saying the Malays had accepted the idea of sharing power with other communities in the past thus replacing traditional power structure hitherto dominated by Malay rulers, former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Zaid Ibrahim said they should now continue to pursue such a path.
Slamming UMNO leaders’ statements threatening racial discord if DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang defeats BN’s Abdul Ghani Othman in Gelang Patah, Zaid urged the Malays to prove to the world that they are not a people out to create trouble as depicted by prime minister Najib Razak and UMNO strongman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Now the Malays have been asked to answer more big questions in Gelang Patah. Do they want moderate, sensible politics in multiracial Malaysia? Do they want racial harmony to continue? Or will they endorse the vile sectarian politics of Dr Mahathir Mahathir and his progeny Najib Razak?” asked Zaid.
He said Malays must kill off all attempts to raise spectre of violence and showcase to others of the community’s moderation. “We have to reassert our identity in this election. We are moderate sensible people. We listen to issues and we decide to vote based on the facts before us. That’s the kind of Malays we are, the genuine Malays of this country,” said the former Kota Bharu member of parliament.
Zaid praised Kit Siang as “one of the finest parliamentarians we have”, saying the DAP leader was far from being a racist “the kind we have in Perkasa and its patron”, he added, referring to BN’s strongest ally supported by Mahathir.
“Despite his (Kit Siang’s) stern look and the fact that he rarely smiles, he is a good man… We judge a leader not by his colour or race but by his deeds. Put the records of service between Kit Siang and Ghani Othman on the table… and compare and contrast. There’s no need to go on a rampage as some irresponsible leaders want you to do,” Zaid stressed.
There are 106,864 eligible voters in Gelang Patah, 52 percent of whom are Chinese, 34 percent Malays and 12 percent Indians.
-Harakahdaily