Dr M, Badawi and BN leaders laud Najib’s Umno speech

Malaysia Chronicle

WITH VIDEO The heads of MCA, MIC and Gerakan joined former Umno president Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Badawi in lauding Najib’s controversial opening speech at the 61st Umno annual assembly.

Najib had made barely-veiled threats of violence including ethnic cleansing if Umno lost its five-decade stranglehold on the federal government and if unnamed parties did not stop debating or challenging Malay supremacy.

“Even if our bodies are crushed and our lives lost, brothers and sisters, whatever happens, we must defend Putrajaya,” Malaysiakini reported Najib as saying..

“What I am saying is not surprising. In the 20th century, we have seen cases of punishment without trial in the United States, the holocaust tragedy in Europe, the slaughter of Palestinians in the Middle East and the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Rwanda. Imagine, what is the outcome, if every generation of Malaysian question the social contract which was agreed upon by their forefathers.”


Malaysia Chronicle appends below the reactions of the BN team.

Mahathir Mohamad, former prime minister

The Malays must realise where they stand and that they need to work hard to be successful.I have said this before when I was president, and Najib is reinforcing this. They don't really understand the contents of the constitution. If you hold on to the original agreement, there is no problem. When people want to make changes that all this while had not been allowed, that would spark tension among races.

What Najib said is that we have a formula that has worked well for the past 50 years, so why do you want to change it? Why bring up issues that only cause tension among all races?

Abdullah Badawi, former prime minister

This entrenchment in the constitution, followed consensus among the leaders of that time. We must realise this.

Samy Vellu, MIC president

I don't think this is a racist message. This is only to unite the Malays with other races so we BN can hold power.

Chua Soi Lek, MCA president

I think we should be able to discuss this. Since this is a sensitive issue, we should not discuss it in a high-profile manner. I think we should not be stopped from discussing any issue. So we can discuss this in a low-profile manner behind closed doors, to ensure that what was enshrined in the constitution is implemented in a fair.

Koh Tsu Koon, Gerakan president

Laws must be seen through a balanced viewpoint and not just through one interpretation. No, no, no. He only said that if Malay rights are questioned, everyone will feel uncomfortable and this will give rise to the opportunists. We must oppose them. What is important is that he stressed that we are on the same path based on the 1Malaysia principle. This message must be promoted and I believe this is a good start.

BN leaders' reaction

Umno leaders' reaction