Latest news with #Urimai
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
I've no issue with Dr M's Malay umbrella body, says Ramasamy
Urimai chairman P Ramasamy said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's call for Malay unity reflects growing concerns over the country's unstable political and economic conditions. PETALING JAYA : Former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy says there is nothing inherently wrong with Dr Mahathir Mohamad's plan to form a new umbrella organisation to protect and advance Malay rights, as long as it does not come at the expense of other ethnic communities. The Urimai chairman said the former prime minister's proposal would only become 'problematic' if such advocacy infringes upon the rights of other ethnic communities, such as the Chinese, Indians, and others. Noting that non-Malays make up 40% of the population in Peninsula Malaysia, he said it must be acknowledged that they also experience a 'deep sense of deprivation'. 'So far, there appears to be no fundamental quarrel with Mahathir's initiative, provided it respects the multicultural fabric of the nation,' Ramasamy said in a statement. 'They (non-Muslims) are not against Malays seeking their legitimate rights, as long as this does not translate into their own marginalisation.' He also suggested that Mahathir's call for Malay unity reflects growing concerns over the country's unstable political and economic conditions. However, Ramasamy said the struggle for rights in Malaysia must not be 'ethnically siloed'. 'Instead, it should be a common, inclusive quest for all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, toward social, economic, and political justice.' He added that establishing a Malay-centric umbrella initiative should not be viewed as the end goal, but rather, an opportunity to imagine new, equitable frameworks for managing race relations in the country. Ramasamy was responding to a call by Mahathir 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.
Malaysiakini
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Ramasamy: Is it time for a non-Malay 'big umbrella'?
Urimai chairperson P Ramasamy is contemplating whether it is time for non-Malay communities to consider forming their own umbrella coalition to defend their 'rapidly eroding rights' in what he describes as a fragmented and directionless Malaysia. Commenting on former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposed 'big umbrella' for the Malays, Ramasamy argued that the plight of non-Malays under the Pakatan Harapan and Anwar Ibrahim-led government is equally troubling.
Malaysiakini
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Ramasamy: Is it time for a non-Malay 'big umbrella'?
Urimai chairperson P Ramasamy is contemplating whether it is time for non-Malay communities to consider forming their own umbrella coalition to defend their 'rapidly eroding rights' in what he describes as a fragmented and directionless Malaysia. Commenting on former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposed 'big umbrella' for the Malays, Ramasamy argued that the plight of non-Malays under the Pakatan Harapan and Anwar Ibrahim-led government is equally troubling.
Malaysiakini
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Urimai's political fortune tied to Ramasamy's court battle
COMMENT | Former DAP stalwart Ramasamy Palanisamy seems to think that his impending court case will be a shot in the arm for Urimai, his fledgling political party he founded in November 2023. The professor is a very angry man ever since he left DAP in somewhat of a huff after he was dropped as a candidate in the six-state election in August 2023. Since then he has been consistently training his fire on his former party and those in power on a wide range of issues, especially those that concern the Indian community. He formed Urimai ostensibly to fight for the cause of the community that he believed had been receiving a raw deal from the powers that be. The former Penang deputy chief minister is pinning all his hopes on Urimai, not only to relieve the plight of this small ethnic group but also to boost his political career. Then comes this "blessing in disguise" in the form of a court case in which he is charged with...
Malaysiakini
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Two S'gor temples targeted in suspected acts of sabotage: Urimai
Two Hindu temples in Selangor have allegedly been targeted in suspected acts of sabotage within a week, raising concerns over rising religious intolerance, said the United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai). In a statement today, Urimai interim deputy chairperson David Marshel cited the destruction of a statue at the Sri Maha Ayiram Kannudayar Alayam temple in Kapar as the first incident.
