Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s rant against non-Malays and vernacular schools goes against the spirit of the Federal Constitution, says MCA Youth chief Nicole Wong.
Wong was referring to Nazri’s speech in Beranang on Saturday (Feb 23) where he said that non-Malays should not question Malay privileges as the former also enjoys special privileges such as vernacular schools.
“If a non-Malay talks about the privilege of the non-Malay, remember that the Chinese and Indian have their privilege too. What is their privilege? The vernacular schools,” he said.
Other countries, he said, do not allow vernacular schools.
Wong said Nazri should not threaten the position of the vernacular schools as not only are those schools provided for in the Constitution, but non-Malays too have the right to learn their own mother tongues.
“His warning to non-Malays not to question the special privileges of Malays is uncalled for as no one has raised the question.
In his speech, Nazri also questioned the appointment of non-Malays as Attorney General, Chief Justice and Finance Minister and said that Malay rights should be defended at all costs.
Nazri had accused the Pakatan Harapan government of being weak and compelled to surrender the rights of the Malays to others.
“It is the duty of every prime minister and the government to defend the (Malay) privilege. However, the government is weak.
“Many things that never happened before are happening now – (look at the appointment of the) attorney-general, chief justice and finance minister.
The former cabinet minister said such positions are strategic and should only be held by Malays in order to uphold the Federal Constitution and Islam.
“Lots of issues that were unimaginable before are an issue now. As some said, (we are) surrendering our rights to others,” he told his audience of approximately 80 people.
He cited the death of firefighter Muhamamd Adib Mohd Kassim as an apparent example of how appointing non-Malays to such positions was bad for the Malays.
“Take, for example, the attorney-general. Everyone said Adib was sacrificed. We ask why no charges were brought against the people who were arrested for allegedly assaulting Adib back then. None has been charged.
“People can see that the attorney-general and the suspects have the same skin colour, so don’t blame the Malay because they thought the attorney-general is not fair.
“What is the problem? Just charge (them to court). I was made to understand it (the prosecution) was withdrawn and (they) just kept quiet.
“This has led to dissatisfaction among the Malays because (they) do not trust a non-Malay holding that position can be fair, instead of acting according to the skin colour,” he said.
He claimed that Malay distrust stemmed from the fact that the three new office bearers he mentioned could not hold the Quran when they were sworn-in.
“An individual swearing before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong must use the Quran because the King is a Muslim. If one does not use the Quran, then he or she is not bound to the oath taken,” he said.
“I can just hold a dictionary and I swear anything because I know this is just a normal book.”
While stressing that he was a true Malaysian and not a racist, Nazri said Malay sentiments must be taken care of by the government.
“Malays must be the priority in our struggle because if racial issues are not taken care of, there will definitely be riots,” he said.