Thursday October 15, 2009
Malays must discard siege mentality, says Khairy
KUALA LUMPUR: Malays must discard the “siege mentality” as it is holding them back from real progress and achievement, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said while Malay rights and privileges were important, Umno and the Malays must move away from a defensive setting where they think their rights are under threat.
“Malays should equip themselves with their own civilisational confidence, that is, confidence in their own cultural ability to face the future,” he said in his bold and hard-hitting maiden speech when opening the wing’s general assembly here yesterday.
Enjoy your meal: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin chatting with Wanita Umno delegates during the Umno Youth Hari Raya open house at Dewan Tun Razak, Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday. — AZHAR MAHFOF/ The Star “This is the new Malay dilemma, the generational question of our time which must be addressed.”
Noticeably missing during the opening ceremony of the wing’s assembly was the keris, which had caused controversy over the last few years.
“Are we going to defend symbols for their sake or are we bold and courageous enough to accept the reality that there needs to be a change in vision and mechanism to see Malays forge ahead?” Khairy questioned.
“I believe the answer lies in the latter.”
Speaking of Malay leadership rather than Malay dominance, Khairy said quotas were to help them and not to be a “lifeline unto perpetuity”.
“The Malay vision is not about defending quotas indefinitely but to stand proud seeing Malays succeed on their own strengths,” he added.
Khairy added it was his dream to one day see institutions of higher learning filled with Malays not because of quota but because of merit.
Stressing that Umno Youth was at a critical juncture, Khairy urged Malays to accept competition and meritocracy, reject the culture of envy and jealousy among themselves and instead assist and encourage each other.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia vision of unity, he said the new direction does not mean foregoing the Malay agenda.
“Umno would still defend Islam, the Malay rulers and Malay language.” he said.
He said it would be unfair to let Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak shoulder the burden on his own.
Khairy also took jabs at PAS, DAP and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whom he called a political chameleon who should be mindful of his “sins”.
He said Anwar was like “the pot calling the kettle black” when he branded Umno leaders as corrupt, voracious and racist.
He said the PKR leader behaved as though he was a beacon of integrity but his past would forever shadow him in the political arena.
He said PAS would sacrifice the country if it came to power and mocked DAP for creating so much publicity over the setting up of one Malay branch after 40 years of Lim Kit Siang as a parliamentarian.
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