Special meeting to discuss Malay issues

Posted by Super Admin

Friday, 18 April 2008

(New Straits Times) - They may be sworn enemies but next week, representatives from Umno, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Pas will meet to achieve a common goal. The meeting is at the initiative of Umno supreme council member Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria who has been in contact with both PKR vice-president Mohamed Azmin Ali and Pas Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub over the past few days to arrange details. "This is my own idea but I think it is timely especially after the results of the 12th general election," Mohamad Norza said. He said other supreme council members did not object to the meeting. He said some of the issues to be discussed included matters relating to religion, education as well as the New Economic Policy. He added that the three parties would try to determine where exactly the Malays stood at this point in time in terms of economic well-being. "On the New Economic Policy, its ultimate goal is to make the Malays competitive. This has to be deliberated. "We need to determine where exactly the Malays are right now. A lot of the discussions going on have been superficial. "Everything has been based on political sentiments, not facts." Mohamad Norza said the ultimate goal was to set up a secretariat consisting of all the Malay parties in the Malaysian political landscape. "We would like everyone to approach these issues with a common stand and prevent these three issues from being politicised." Mohamad Norza said the initial meeting would be held on an informal basis. Meanwhile, Mohamed Az-min, when contacted by the New Straits Times, said PKR accepted the invitation as long as the principles were in line with his party's objectives. "Malay unity is very important but we don't want it to benefit only the Malay ruling elite with the ordinary Malays left out. "We believe Malay rights have to defended. "But at the same time, we also have to be fair to the other races." Mohamed Azmin said there would be no problem for PKR to attend the meeting as their DAP coalition partner accepted their desire to strengthen Malay unity. Salahuddin said Pas, too, was interested in defending the rights of Malays and other Bumiputeras.