KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — A local hardline Muslim group today cautioned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak not to sideline Malays and Bumiputera rights in order to champion the “liberal, multiracial” agenda.
In a post at the Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) website, its president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman said that Najib should not forget that Muslims and Malay voters helped ensure Umno’s victory in the previous general election.
“The prime minister should remember not to ignore the Malays and Bumiputera as the main factor in the country’s development,” Abdullah said in the website, referring to Najib’s previous call to stop using the slur “pendatang”.
“Bumiputera rights should not be sacrificed for whatever political reasons. What is the use of gaining successful country status and high income if it benefits the pendatang agenda?”
Last Tuesday, the prime minister told local Malay rights group Perkasa to “tone down” their antics and urged for better religious understanding.
Najib, who was speaking at the launch of Christians for Peace and Harmony in Malaysia (CPHM), a Putrajaya-backed Christian NGO, said this was necessary to ensure a mature Malaysian society.
He added in his speech that the slur “pendatang”, which means immigrant in Malay, should stop being used as every citizen is considered a Malaysian in their own right.
“We’re all Malaysians, only difference is not how long you’ve been here or where you come from or what religion you profess, only difference is your love for Malaysia,” Najib said, receiving rousing applause from the crowd.
