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CONTROVERSIAL: Crown Prince Tengku Mohammad Faris says the special privileges of Malays should not be questioned.
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KUALA LUMPUR - THE issue of Malay special rights and privileges has come to the fore again, with renewed debate sparked by the Kelantan Crown Prince, who said at the weekend that the other races were not entitled to demand similar treatment.
'No one should question the special rights and privileges of the Malays because it is quid pro quo in return for providing citizenship to 2.7 million people of other races who joined the Malay Federation,' The Star daily quoted Tengku Mohammad Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra as saying in his opening address at a Malay unity gathering at the Putra World Trade Centre on Saturday.
'It is not appropriate for the other races to demand equal rights and privileges after they have already acquired their citizenship.'
Tengku Mohammad Faris also reminded those gathered that while they pursued stronger Malay unity, they should not ignore the rights of other races, such as freedom to practise their religions.
Malay special rights, which favour bumiputeras (sons of the soil), are a sensitive issue in Malaysia. They were a factor in Umno's election losses: Non-Malays protested against the pro-Malay policies, while Malays felt they enriched only a small elite.
After the polls, opposition state governments announced their intention to dismantle the policies, which the Barisan Nasional warned against.
The Prince's remarks drew fire from Malaysian Chinese Association president Ong Ka Ting, who said they would destroy racial unity and harmony.
'For the past 50 years, the various races have worked hard together to attain the goals of nation- building, for which they have also contributed vastly to the country's development,' he was quoted by Bernama as saying.
'As such, they too have equal rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
'The statement by the Tengku is inconsistent with the Barisan Nasional's stand on racial unity which stands for fair and equal partnership.'
The chairman of the opposition Democratic Action Party, Mr Karpal Singh, also called the Prince's remarks 'unwarranted'.
'Royalty in the country must stay apolitical,' he said in a statement.
'It was not right for the Tengku...to descend to the political arena and make statements which are on the verge of sedition.'
Many netizens also slammed the Prince's speech, saying it was inappropriate coming from royalty, who they felt should champion the rights of all Malaysians and not just Malays.
The Umno-controlled daily Utusan Malaysia, however, backed Tengku Mohammad Faris.
In an editorial on Monday, it urged Malays to see the Prince's point, noting that they should be united to prevent Malay hegemony from being eroded.
It noted that this hegemony, which included Islam as the official religion, Malay as the national language and Malay kings as constitutional monarchs, was 'now being blatantly challenged'.
'Whether we are aware or not, the strength of Malay solidarity today is becoming more fragile,' it observed.
The editorial also urged Malay leaders with 'different political affiliations' to put aside racial and religious interests.
The Malay Unity Action Front - a group of non-governmental organisations which organised Saturday's event - also defended the Prince's statement.
It invited Malay leaders from Barisan Nasional and the opposition alliance to discuss what direction the Malay race should take.
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