BALING (Kedah): Former defacto law minister Zaid Ibrahim has come under withering criticism from Umno politicians for saying that the concept of 'Ketuanan Melayu' or Malay supremacy championed by the party has led to failed policies.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar led the charge, saying Mr Zaid was a traitor to his own race and should apologise for his remarks.

Strong reactions Here's how some Umno politicians reacted to former defacto law minister Zaid Ibrahim's criticism of 'ketuanan Melayu' (Malay Supremacy). 'Don't be a traitor to your own race. Zaid needs to repent and apologise to the Malay race.' ... more

'There should be no attempt to deny or tarnish the history of the struggle by the Malays,' Datuk Seri Syed Hamid was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

It said he was speaking after attending a forum on 'Malay politics, Islam, Conflict and Resolution' here on Sunday.

Jerlun Member of Parliament Mukhriz Mahathir, who is making a strong bid to be the next Umno Youth chief and who was at the forum, also slammed the former minister.

The Malay daily Berita Harian quoted him as saying that Mr Zaid was blind to the history of the Malay struggle.

'Without the history of Malay supremacy, Zaid would not have had the chance to be where he was previously and might not be able to express what he is questioning now should this country not have been governed and founded on Malay supremacy,' he was quoted as saying.

Datuk Mukhriz urged the Malays to stop squabbling among themselves, as this could affect the strength and future of the race.

He said that if Malays, specifically Umno members, failed to unite, pressure from other parties, including from leaders of the other component parties of the ruling multiracial Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, would continue.

In Kangar, Perlis Umno liaison chief Shahidan Kassim, called on Mr Zaid to apologise and 'repent', adding that otherwise he 'should get out of the 'rumpun Melayu' (Malay grouping)'.

Datuk Seri Shahidan, who is also Arau Umno division chief, said Mr Zaid 'is a Malay and should be behaving like a Malay', according to Bernama.

Mr Zaid, in a speech to the LawAsia 2008 conference on Friday, said that the concept long embraced by Umno politicians 'has resulted in a waste of critical resources, energy and time and has distracted from the real issues confronting the country'.

He also said it did not match the principles of democracy and the rule of law upon which Malaysia was founded.

Ketuanan Melayu has frequently been used as shorthand for upholding Malay economic rights - widely seen in the form of the government's New Economic Policy which favours members of the community over others - and Malay political dominance.

But the preferential policies have also engendered growing resentment among non-Malays, as well as Malays who believe they have only benefitted the elite and those close to the ruling class.

The resentment partly contributed to the crushing losses suffered by BN in the March general election after the opposition effectively campaigned on a multiracial platform.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, reacting to Mr Zaid's speech, said yesterday that it deserved study.

Mr Zaid, meanwhile, hit back at those who want him to apologise, saying he was not suprised by the reaction of some Umno leaders 'especially since they have an ongoing party election'.

Mr Zaid said he was not questioning the special rights of Malays as enshrined in the Constitution, the Star reported. He said the new model that he recommended was based on openness to ensure young Malays closed ranks and cooperated not only with other races in the country but also with foreigners.