by Kamles Kumar
Malay Mail Online
September 19, 2015
PETALING JAYA, Sept 19 — Malaysia is headed towards a state of emergency being declared possibly within the next five years if the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) does not fix its overtly pro-Malay attitude in governance, national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said predicted today.
The respected poet and Malay writer popularly known as Pak Samad said the current administration’s tendency to favour the dominant Malay community over that of ethnic minorities will deepen the rift among Malaysians, with a state of emergency possibly declared before even polls can be held.
“At the rate things are going, with the way race issues are played up and we see people being caught for show, it is not impossible that things will peak into a state of an emergency if the government does not keep peace.
“The government is being Malay-centric now, all their speeches are targeted towards the Malays,” he said after launching a book titled “Young & Malay” at Gerakbudaya here.
He said a declaration of emergency may also happen after polls, if the BN coalition fails to form a strong Cabinet that fairly represents all races.
Samad, who became a DAP member earlier this year, urged the federal government to stop its partisan approach, especially in implementing policies that have largely rewarded the Malays.
“The current leadership only sides the Malays. Not to say that is not good, but this is not just a Malay county but a Malaysian country.
“Government should be the voice of all Malaysians,” he said.
Samad also dispelled rumours that he may run for public office in the next general elections.
“I am already 83 years old. I am too old to run for elections. I am in DAP so that it becomes a party that is accepted as a party for all races,” he explained.
Thousands of red shirted people were bussed into the federal capital on September 16, a day that marked the anniversary of the country’s founding, in a rally seen as retaliation to last month’s two-day Bersih 4 rally, which several Malay leaders have claimed were dominated by the ethnic Chinese.
The protest was also marred by sporadic outbreaks of racism, with one participant recorded calling a reporter “Crazy Chinese pig”, among other insults, though several Umno leaders have attempted to whitewash the street demonstration as non-racist and non-seditious.
Datuk Jamal Md Yunos, an Umno leader and spokesman for the #Merah169 rally, downplayed the insult on Thursday, saying the Chinese should feel no slight in the remark since they consume pork.
The rally, said to be in support of Najib’s leadership, was to counter last month’s mammoth two-day Bersih 4 gathering calling for the prime minister’s resignation.
The ruling Malay party has insisted that it does not endorse the event, which has also been alternately called “Himpunan Maruah Melayu”, but did not prohibit its members from participating in the demonstration organised by martial arts group Pesaka.