DAP attacks the “Malay Dignity Congress”
Ramasamy attacks congress organisers for snubbing Anwar Ibrahim by not inviting him to attend the congress
(FMT) – The upcoming “Malay Dignity Congress” appears to have come under criticism from DAP leaders, with Lim Kit Siang asking if organisers are also committed to championing the cause of other ethnic groups.
“There can only be dignity for Malaysia if every ethnic and religious group in Malaysia enjoys dignity – which will be in keeping with the fundamental principles in the Malaysian constitution and the Rukun Negara,” the DAP supremo said in a statement.
The congress on Sunday is jointly organised by Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
Organisers say the congress, to be held at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam, will focus on problems faced by Malays in the fields of education, religion, culture, politics and the economy.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to deliver a keynote speech at the gathering, while Umno and PAS leaders have also said they would attend.
Lim asked if participants at the congress will seek to allay fears of racial and religious tensions created by “fake news and hate speech”.
“Will the Malay Dignity Congress on Sunday spearhead a media literacy campaign to deactivate these time-bombs to Malaysian nation-building which can only spell disaster for peace, tolerance, harmony and success in plural Malaysia?”
Meanwhile, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy questioned the intentions of the congress organisers, saying they were politically motivated.
He said this could be seen when organisers “snubbed” Anwar Ibrahim by not inviting the PKR president.
“Is he not qualified as a Malay leader? Has he not fought for the Malay or even Malaysian cause? Mind you, he will be the next prime minister of the country taking over from Mahathir in the very near future,” he said.
He said the Malay leaders at the congress “might not be too pleased with Anwar”.
Ramasamy also took to task Education Minister Maszlee Malik for allowing public universities to be part of the gathering.
“Public universities playing the role of organisers is not something acceptable. Perhaps the gathering could have been outsourced to others.
“In the final analysis, it is naive to assume that there are no political motivations behind the congress.”