Ex-CJ vows to defend Malay-Muslim rights
Former Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad is the first chief of Perkasa-backed National Unity Front
Leven Woon, FMT
Former Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad today became the chairman of National Unity Front, a Perkasa-linked umbrella group, and vowed to defend the rights of the Malays and Muslims “within the boundaries of law”.
NUF was formed by Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali and some 50 other right-wing NGOs to counter the government’s formation of National Unity Consultative Council.
They accused the NUCC of going against the Malay interests, and want to establish “Malay benevolent dominance” as an answer to the nation unity.
At a press conference after its first meeting today, Hamid said NUF would prepare a memorandum and submit it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by September on ways to improve the nation unity.
“It will be from the perspective of Malay Muslims,” he said, adding that NUF would meet with NGOs all over the country to collect input for that purpose.
He said it is not wrong for him to defend the Malay and Muslim rights because he is also a member of public.
“I did not choose to be born as a Malay Muslim, but since I am one, what’s wrong if I am to defend the Malay Muslim rights as enshrined in Federal Constitution?
“I was the former chief justice, so I cannot say anything?” said Hamid, who served as the country top judge in 2007-2008.
He said it did not matter if the Agong had endorsed the NUCC in his royal address to the Parliament on Monday, because “as the head of state he is supposed to support every government initiative.”
“But we are still entitled to our opinion, and they can take that into consideration,” he said.
