PETALING JAYA, April 29 ― Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today agreed with President Barack Obama’s assessment on marginalised minorities, but added that even rural and poor Bumiputera are marginalised in Malaysia.

“I don’t think anyone can deny the fact that there are concerns by ethnic minorities in this country,” Anwar said in a press conference.

“I would add the marginalisation of Bumiputera poor, rather than just ethnic Indians and Chinese and religious minorities. Marginalisation of the poor includes, rural Malays, Dayak and Kadazan.”

The Permatang Pauh MP said the fact still stands, even if Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied it, claiming the marginalisation was just a perception.

In his first official visit to Malaysia during the weekend, Obama reminded Malaysia that it cannot flourish if the country’s religious and ethnic minorities are sidelined.

The president of the United States also said that prejudices against people from different religions and races have no place in the modern world and must be removed.

In response, Zahid said yesterday that the government has been fair to Malaysians of all religions, but refused to comment on the continuation of the government’s pro-Bumiputera policies.

Umno MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed also noted that the Western superpower also practised affirmative action policies towards its African-American minority but which escaped being put under the world microscope, unlike Malaysia.

According to Anwar, the superpower has now heard the opinions that more accurately reflect the sentiments of the public, after Obama met with the civil societies and top White House national security aide Susan Rice met Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

Anwar also accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of using the excuse that the latter’s efforts in reforming Malaysia had been thwarted by external forces.

“This is just a pretext to deflect and provide excuse for the utter incompetence or ineptitude in dealing with issues of governance, corruption, rule of law, and discrimination or harassment of ethnic and religious minorities. This cannot be accepted,” said Anwar.

Anwar also questioned Najib’s inaction, as he alleged that Putrajaya has been funding extreme organisations such Malay rights group Perkasa and Islamist group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma).

Malaysia’s Bumiputera majority enjoys privileges under a system of preferential treatment in jobs, housing and access to government funding.