Daim: Malay unity cannot be based on exclusivity

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

March 04, 2012

Daim said the community needed to come together to combat corruption and mismanagement.—File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Malays cannot be united under any policy that can be deemed “exclusive”, Tun Daim Zainuddin told Mingguan Malaysia.

The Umno veteran said the issue of “Malay disunity” is complex, and that the community has only been united once — to oppose the creation of the colonial British idea of a Malayan Union more than 50 years ago, which also led to the genesis of Umno.

“For Malays to unite, it must not involve a policy which can be seen as exclusive.

“Malays must unite to fight corruption, wastage, mismanagement and agree to punish those who flout the law,” the former finance minister told the Sunday edition of Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia in an interview published today.

“Universal Islamic values will unite Malays. The united Malay populace will usher in a united Malaysia which is stable and peaceful,” he added.

Daim pointed out that, in the past, Malays were only “united” when their status in the country was challenged or when it came down to the issue of “survival.”

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