ABOUT 500 people calling themselves the Selangor Malay Coalition, a previously unknown group, gathered in front of the Shah Alam Square yesterday to express their concern over the scrapping of the New Economic Policy (NEP) and matters related to the state leadership.

They wanted Selangor's new Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, to take the matter seriously and champion the cause of the Malays, state Umno Youth chief Abdul Shukur Idrus told reporters.

'We hope Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim will take this seriously and always ensure that Malays are protected,' he told reporters.

He said the group also urged Tan Sri Abdul Khalid to maintain 60 per cent Malay representation in the state executive council, and not to bow to pressure when making key decisions on state matters.

The new opposition-led government in Selangor had said soon after its electoral victory that it would dismantle the Malay preferential policies.

BERNAMA