Dr Chua says he accepts the leadership of Malay leaders. — Picture by Choo Choy MayByShannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek today clarified that he is not challenging the position of the Malay Rulers, Bumiputera rights or Bahasa Malaysia but questioned the use of the phrase “Ketuanan Melayu”, or Malay Supremacy.
"We must change the power-sharing concept in the Barisan Nasional as the term ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ gives the impression that other parties in the BN are slaves," he said, referring to Umno's dominance in the governing coalition.
"We accept the leadership of Malay leaders. But it cannot be denied that certain parties exploit the term," Dr Chua said.
Yesterday the Young Malay Graduates Movement (GGMM), a Malay rights group, demanded Dr Chua pay RM2 million in compensation for allegedly questioning the special position of the Malays.
Dr Chua said in his speech, at a recent advertising awards night, that by extending this phrase to all aspects of Malay rights within the power-sharing concept of the BN, it gave the impression that other parties in the BN were slaves to Umno.
The position of the Bumiputeras and Bahasa Malaysia, however, was not to be questioned as it is enshrined in the federal constitution.
"I used the term in the context of power-sharing in the BN, which has been exploited by certain quarters to gain support from the people.
"It has no connection whatsoever to challenging the Malay Rulers and the special rights of Bumiputeras and Bahasa Malaysia as the national language," he stated.
He gave examples of the exploitation of the term “Ketuanan Melayu”.
"During general elections, the opposition tells non-Malays ‘supporting BN is supporting Ketuanan Melayu’. So how do we explain to them in the short campaign period?"
On the other hand, he said there were also some NGOs and Umno politicians who are now accusing him of challenging the special position of the Malays for their own purposes.
Yesterday, Umno Youth chief hopeful Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir accused Dr Chua of trying to be a "hero" by challenging Malay rights.
Dr Chua shot back today, saying that there is no reason for him to be a hero as his party's polls were already done while "they are the ones facing a party election”.
"Whoever says I am being a hero should look in the mirror," he said.
He also touched on Mukhriz's call for the abolition of vernacular schools, saying that it has been an issue that has been debated since he joined politics in the ‘80s.
"It is very clear that there are constitutional guarantees of freedom of choice in education and freedom to pursue mother tongue education.
"I am sure MCA will object if the dual system is being replaced. We respect the constitution and it is provided for by the constitution," he added.
He hoped all parties would accept his clarification and read his speech in full.
"But they have the right to do something and I have the right to defend what I believe is true. They have the right to speak out, I cannot obstruct that," he said referring to GGMM as well as Malay-language newspapers such as Utusan Malaysia.
"Utusan, as usual as a BM paper, it brings up issues which are important to the Malays, and Chinese papers do the same and give publicity to issues that are important to the Chinese," he added.
Dr Chua was pressed also on whether he had the backing of his party in his stand as it had been reported in Utusan that party president Datuk Ong Tee Keat said that it was not the stand of the party.
"You have to read the Chinese papers. In Utusan he said that my views are personal. But in the Chinese press, he said he was satisfied and proud that my views were in line with his. So I leave it to the readers to decide which one reflects the stand of my president," he said. -- TMI
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