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Free Malaysia Today
17 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Malay rights are safe, Khaled tells Dr M
Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin said the younger generation is smarter, more critical, and unlikely to fall for what he called 'emotional politics'. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin has assured the Malay community that their rights and interests are firmly protected under the Federal Constitution and safeguarded by the country's monarchy. 'To all Malays: no one is threatening our rights or interests,' he said in an interview with FMT. 'They have long been enshrined in the Federal Constitution and protected by our wise Malay rulers.' Khaled was responding to a call by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for Malays to join his new unity alliance, which the latter said was aimed at saving the community from what he described as their political and economic decline. Mahathir said the group, which includes PAS and Bersatu, is not a political party but a coalition aimed at 'restoring Malay power' in the government. While he did not want to invite Umno to join the alliance as a party, Mahathir said he welcomed its members who share his views. Khaled stressed that the younger generation is smarter, more critical, and unlikely to fall for what he called 'emotional politics'. The defence minister also said he believes that the true challenge facing the Malay community lies not in external threats, but in outdated and regressive thinking among some of its own leaders. The Kota Tinggi MP also reminded Malays that they needed to focus on gaining knowledge, skills and competitiveness. 'Many Malay leaders do not realise that generations X, Y, Z and Alpha … are not easily swayed by emotional politics aimed solely at gaining power,' he said. 'We need to engage in rational politics guided by strong values. Sentimentalism alone won't help us.'
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Protect Malay residential quotas, S'gor Umno Youth says on URA
Selangor Umno Youth chief Imran Tamrin said a special committee has been set up to discuss and provide feedback on the URA. SHAH ALAM : Umno Youth's Selangor chapter has urged the federal government to outline a specific ratio for Malay residents in any development under the contentious Urban Renewal Act (URA). Its chief Imran Tamrin said the youth wing in the state had established a special committee to discuss and provide feedback on the URA. 'We are concerned about the ongoing debate on the URA, particularly topics related to the interests and position of the Malays and Bumiputeras in urban areas. 'We call for a clear guarantee to be included in the amendment to the URA that provides protection to the composition of Malay and Bumiputera population in any development made under the URA,' he said in a press conference at the Selangor Umno building yesterday. Imran said he supported the idea of urban renewal, especially in terms of improving the quality and facilities of urban low-cost flats. However, he said a legal guarantee was needed in the proposed URA to protect Malay and Bumiputera holdings. 'A low-cost flat usually has five storeys and the residents are mostly Malays, but if it's redeveloped under the URA, it might become a building with 20 to 30 storeys. 'Our Housing Development Act only stipulates that around 30% of the units should be allocated to the Malays (or Bumiputeras), meaning that 70% of the new units are for the open market. This might dilute the overall Bumiputera holding in the area,' he said. The URA is a proposed law that would allow the redevelopment of land without the consent of all its owners. The bill is expected to be tabled in the next parliamentary session between July and August. Spearheaded by the housing and local government ministry, the proposed legislation has been touted by its minister, Nga Kor Ming, as necessary to replace outdated laws and regulations governing the redevelopment of dilapidated urban areas. However, opponents argue that it will displace poorer citizens who may be unable to continue living in the area once it is redeveloped. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the Act would not force property owners to give up their homes or alter the ethnic composition of residential areas, contrary to allegations by PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man that it is aimed at pushing the poor Malays and Indians out of urban areas.
Free Malaysia Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
700 turn up for pro-Malay rally in KL
Participants at Himpunan Melayu Berdaulat held near Sogo in Kuala Lumpur today. KUALA LUMPUR : More than 700 people took part in Himpunan Melayu Berdaulat, a pro-Malay rally, near the Sogo shopping complex today to voice their dissatisfaction with the government's alleged shortcomings on issues affecting the community's livelihood. The gathering, organised by a coalition of Malay NGOs with the participants wearing white, proceeded without incident. Syed Hassan Syed Ali, who heads Malay rights group Perkasa, said the gathering was a 'manifestation of Malay disappointment' over issues affecting the community since the unity government was formed more than two years ago. Among the alleged grievances is the purported non-Malay dominance in government agencies and development projects, resulting in Malay land owners being 'oppressed'. 'We see these issues cropping up since the Madani administration was formed in 2022. We are worried about where we are heading, especially when it comes to Malay and Islamic interests,' he said when met during the rally. PAS's Razman Zakaria said the gathering was vital to raise awareness among Malays of their rights. 'We want to inculcate this to the Malays, that our job is to elect honest leaders who will defend our rights,' he said. The rally, which began at 2,30pm and lasted for about 90 minutes, was also attended by PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad and Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali. Dang Wangi police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman estimated the crowd to be between 700 and 800. Syed Hassan previously said that more than 700 NGOs had confirmed their participation and that up to 20,000 participants had been expected.
Malay Mail
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Saturday's Sovereign Malay Rally cleared to proceed with police oversight
KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — The Himpunan Melayu Berdaulat (Sovereign Malay Rally), scheduled for Saturday in the capital, will go ahead as planned, with police stepping in as facilitators to ensure the gathering proceeds smoothly under reasonable control measures. According to Dang Wangi district police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman, a group of officers will be deployed in the area to oversee the situation. 'A total of 80 officers and personnel will be assigned to monitor the area where the rally is taking place,' he said in a statement issued today. Sulizmie Affendy added that police had already held discussions with the organisers to ensure full compliance with the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012. The rally is organised by a coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) led by Perkasa president Syed Hassan Syed Ali. It is expected to draw more than 15,000 participants. The purpose of the rally is to voice concerns on matters affecting the interests of Malays and Muslims, including opposition to the proposed Urban Redevelopment Bill and issues related to Malay reserve land. It is scheduled to take place at the compound of the Sogo shopping complex on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman from 2.30pm.
Free Malaysia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Inclusive policies needed to win non-Malay trust, Muhyiddin told
A leader of PAS's non-Muslim supporters' wing said PN must engage more effectively with non-Malay communities to refute misgivings over its commitment to defending the rights of all. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin's declaration that his 'Malay first' stance is a thing of the past could boost confidence among non-Malay communities – but only if he backs his claim with inclusive policies, says a leader of PAS's non-Muslim supporters' wing. Speaking to FMT, Balachandran G Krishnan, the information chief of PAS's non-Muslim supporters' wing, said PN had not done enough to engage with non-Malay communities. 'Muhyiddin's statement could be a catalyst to increase non-Malay confidence, as long as it is backed by concrete action,' he said. '(This includes) policies that are inclusive of all races, involving non-Malay representatives in decision-making processes, and getting PN leaders to actively participate in non-Malay community programmes.' Balachandran Gopal Krishnan. Balachandran added that PN must engage with non-Malay communities more effectively to refute claims that its commitment to defending the rights of all races is just empty rhetoric. He also said PN must demonstrate that fighting for Malay rights and maintaining racial harmony are not mutually exclusive. 'Being Malay doesn't mean rejecting others. What's needed is an inclusive Malay narrative that views Malay interests as part of the national interest, encompassing all races,' he said. Muhyiddin acknowledged on Sunday that he had said 'I am Malay first' in 2010, but claimed 'that's no longer important'. The former prime minister said he had never viewed himself as 'Malay only', and that he was 'a Malay who cares for all Malaysians'. His statement was criticised by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, who challenged him to back up his words by leading a campaign urging citizens to prioritise nationality over ethnicity. R Sanjeevan. Bersatu associate wing leader R Sri Sanjeevan said the 'Malay narrative' in PN did not need to be eliminated. Instead, he said it should be delivered with the overarching theme of unity and inclusivity. 'We can uphold Malay rights while being fair to all citizens. I believe we don't need to be anti-Malay to be pro-people,' said Sanjeevan, the deputy chief of Bersatu's associate wing. Sanjeevan also claimed that the negative perception of PN was the result of propaganda and narratives spread by rival parties. Meanwhile, Gerakan information chief Wendy Subramaniam said PN was inherently diverse as all of its components had non-Malay members. Wendy Subramaniam. She said PAS had a non-Muslim supporters' wing, Bersatu had its associate wing, Gerakan was a multiracial party, and the Malaysian Indian People's Party represented the Indian community. She said PN needed to counter 'opposition propaganda' labelling the coalition as a 'racist party'. 'What PN needs to do is to strengthen its approach, communication, and outreach to non-Malay communities,' she said.
