Don’t play with ‘bumi fire’, Umno warns Pua
By Free Malaysia Today
JOHOR BARU: An Umno leader has slammed DAP’s Tony Pua for questioning the discounts given to Bumiputeras in terms of property ownership, and warned him “not to play with fire”.
Ahmad Maslan, Umno’s information chief, also believes that the latest episode was part of DAP’ long list of issues to challenge the special position of the Malays and Bumiputera.
Pua had recently suggested that discounts be abolished for commercial and luxurious properties in Selangor.
However, Ahmad Maslan said the percentage of shop-houses and business premises owned by the Malays in townships was still low, only 14%.
Abolishing the discounts, he added, would only worsen the situation.
“I call on Pua not to play with fire, don’t strike a match with this suggestion. Pua should think before he speaks,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Ahmad Maslan said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP made the suggestion without considering the sensitivities of the Malays and Bumiputera.
‘DAP’s racist policy’
Although making up 67% of the population, the deputy minister said the imbalance was also apparent in the ownership of houses, because only a 30% quota was allocated for them in housing estates.
“(This imbalance) is not healthy for the future of the country if residential areas have more than 70% non-Bumiputeras while the Malays live in small houses in the outskirts of town,” he added.
