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.
