Noorhayati’s rant reflects poorly on Umno

The recent racists remarks of the Wanita Umno member does little to help salvage the already battered image of Umno, says DAP's M Manoharan

KUALA LUMPUR: The racist remarks by Wanita Umno member Noorhayati Saidin against student activist KS Bawani reflects poorly on Umno, said a DAP state assemblyman.

Kota Alam Shah’s M Manoharan said Noorhyati’s mindset is reflective of the majority of Umno members that non Malays in this country should be grateful for the ‘good life’ in this country.

“Among others, she said that Bavani should go to India if she didn’t like it here and also that Indians did not have access to proper toilets before Umno-BN governed the country.

“I understand that she has since apologised but I dare say it was a politically expedient act rather than genuine remorse on her part,” he said in a statement.

Bawani, a UUM law student and Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) activist, became an overnight sensation after a YouTube clip showing her being berated by a pro-government moderator at a student forum went viral.

Netizens, as well as politicians, including Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, were quick to come to Bawani’s defence and condemn the action of the moderator, Suara Wanita 1Malaysia (SW1M) president Sharifah Zohra Jabeen.

1Malaysia slogan a charade

Noorhayati went on a racist rampage on her Facebook attacking Bawani. She subsequently apologised “unreservedly to her Indian friends” for her comments, saying she had no intention to insult her, as she “grew up with Indians” and that some Malay individuals, who had different political ideologies, made a mountain out of a molehill.

“If you all want me to apologise, ok, I, Norhayati Saiddin, am sorry to all my Indian friends,” she wrote.  She also clarified that she did not ask Bawani to go home to India, but instead to go to India to study, if she (Bawani) wanted free education.

“Norhayati is just unfortunate to be exposed. I say ‘unfortunate’ because the great majority of Umno members share her racist perspectives but it was she who  got caught in the line of fire and also because she was just articulating the myth propagated by Umno that Malays are under siege by the the non-Malays.

“Vile racism has been used to deny non Malays of their basic constitutional rights. And Indians in this country have paid the highest price for the many reasons that I have discussed before in my writings,” Manoharan said in a statement

He said the time has come for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to acknowledge that his 1Malaysia slogan was just a charade and identify the reasons behind the failure.

“He must be honest and forthright for the many weaknesses in its genesis and implementation,” he added.