Ministers should be championing the cause of Malaysians - NOT just members of their own ethnic/religious/State grouping..

It is rather ODD and DISTURBING when a MINISTER attending a function as a Malaysian Minister start talking about just one ethnic group in Malaysia - the Malays, in this case. When one is out there, and speaking in the capacity of a Minister, you must talk about Malaysians and/or persons in Malaysia.

It may have been perfectly alright for Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, if he was attending some UMNO function in his capacity as some UMNO leader to speak about "Malay Unity", common direction for Malays..or "defending Malay rights"

Even then, in UMNO today, I believe that the membership is not just Malays anymore - there are, I believe, Eurasians, Indian Muslims, ethnic groups from Sabah (and maybe even Sarawak), orang asli (Temuan, etc.), Indonesian ethnic groups like Batak, Javanese - so even there it may not be proper to be just talking about "Malay Unity", common direction for Malays..or "defending Malay rights".

Being also a "wakil rakyat" (people's representative), again it must be understood that it is very divisive and unhealthy talking about just one single ethnic grouping. Talk about all persons in Malaysia - or all Malaysians.

In the report below, this Minister is reported to be addressing "graduation of silat trainees under the Silat Cekak Association of Malaysia", and I do believe that there are those there that are not ethnically Malay there.

When you are out there as a Minister of Malaysia, or as a People's Representative, do not forget that you are representing all Malaysians. Tomorrow, we may have some Indian Minister calling for Indian unity, fighting to defend Indian rights... then some Chinese Minister doing the same with Chinese.. Some Melanau Minister calling for Melanau unity, etc.. Some Christian Minister doing the same with Christians...

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, other Ministers and peoples' representatives must not be out there speaking for just one particular ethnic group - but must do so for all persons that you represent...

I am Malaysians, and I hope that our Ministers and wakil rakyat behave as such -- representing all Malaysians irrespective of ethnicity, religion, State, gender, etc..


2008/06/08 (NST)

Zahid: Malays must defend their rights

BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: Malay unity is presently at its lowest level, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"Unlike previously, the Malays do not have a common direction and because of this, some groups have raised issues which are no longer relevant, like Malay supremacy," Zahid said at the graduation of silat trainees under the Silat Cekak Association of Malaysia at the International Islamic University near here yesterday.

He said the Malays were not asking more than what had been stated in the Federal Constitution nor did they want to deny other races of their rights.

"We just want to defend our rights," said Zahid.

He added that the Malays had also lost their political power, based on their representation in Parliament and recent incidents in Selangor and Perak.

Zahid also urged silat members to play a role in uniting the Malays, saying that the art of self-defence, like silat, should be used to show their love for the country.

A total of 868 silat cekak members received their certificates yesterday, 60 of them graduating with honours. -- Bernama