Umno, not racist?
By Ding Jo-Ann, The Nut Graph
DATUK Seri Najib Razak‘s assertion over the weekend that only “one or two Umno leaders” have made racist comments and that they do not represent the party’s views belies belief.
Umno’s top leaders have in fact publicly and repeatedly championed the Malay agenda over the legitimate interests of other Malaysians. In some instances, intimidation and fear have even been used in their rhetoric to uphold “Malay rights”.
Hence, Najib’s exhortation for Malaysians to ignore and forget the racism that Umno is capable of is problematic, to say the least.
Not just a few
It was at the opening of the Gerakan national delegates conference on 1 Nov 2009 that the prime minister reportedly said that people should not pay too much attention to the one or two party leaders who make racist remarks. He added that every party had such leaders. Najib, who is also Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairperson, urged people to instead look at Umno’s policies from “Day One”, saying they have “always been fair, inclusive, democratic and open”.
Hishammuddin (pic courtesy of theSun)
But in attempting to paint a rosy picture of an inclusive and representative Umno, Najib appears to be conveniently forgetting the words of many of his party colleagues, including those from his own cabinet. Or perhaps, the prime minister wants us to forget.
Again and again, Umno leaders have berated and chided those who are seen to question Malay rights and supremacy. When Najib says we are to ignore the “one or two” leaders who have made racist comments, whom exactly does he mean?
