Sunday August 27, 2006
Hisham: Nothing wrong about parties using keris
THERE should be nothing sensitive about using keris or Chinese swords by political parties in their ceremonies, as they are only symbols, said Barisan Nasional Youth chairman Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
He said the keris, for instance, had all along been a symbol and the same applied to “swords and kung fu”.
Nevertheless, he said there were some people who were still clouded by sensitive issues and there was a need to explain to them.
“Keris, dress or skin colour is not an issue,” said Hishammuddin to reporters after the opening of the MCA Youth annual delegates conference.
On his deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s recent remark that Barisan Nasional component parties would take advantage of a weak Umno, Hishammuddin said: “It was not meant to hurt others.”
MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had in his speech made indirect references to the issue.
Liow even quoted Tun Hussein Onn, the late father of Hishammuddin, from his speech at the Umno general assembly on July 3, 1976.
Hussein had then said: “If a leader seeks to maintain his position through making popular decisions, national interests can be jeopardised. In leading a multiracial society, the principle behind every decision must be the promotion of national interests, and not the fulfilment of the needs of just one group.”
To this, Hishammuddin said: “I don’t know how to respond since he is quoting my father and grandfather. Liow is now very clever in politicking.”
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