Rafidah Aziz speaks out against racism at ‘red shirt’ rally

Umno veteran Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has hit out at the racist remarks made at the ‘red shirt’ rally. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, September 19, 2015.

Umno veteran Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has spoken out against racist invectives spewed at the “red shirt” rally in Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Day, even as some of her party colleagues have tried to defend the gathering.

Rafidah took to Facebook again to stress that Malaysians of all ethnicities should not have to suffer prejudice as the ancestors of all communities, were migrants from other parts of the world.

“I felt sad for my many non-Malay, especially Chinese friends, many from my primary school days, when I saw videos and photos berating the Chinese community.

“We all have friends of ALL races and creed. We feel for them, especially when, just like us, they are trying to make a life for themselves and their families in THEIR COUNTRY... MALAYSIA,” Rafidah wrote in her Facebook posting today.

The red shirt rally, or Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu, has been criticized for its racist rhetoric even though its organizers have claimed that the gathering was in response to Bersih 4 on August 29.

Umno grassroots members and political analysts have said that the rally was more a show of support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is facing calls to resign.

One of the demands of the Bersih 4 rally was for Najib to resign for receiving RM2.6 billion in political donations.

Last night at a silat function, Najib defended the rally despite reports that its participants hurled racial epithets towards the Chinese Malaysian community.

Rafidah today said she found it insulting to be told by anyone to go “back to your country”.

The phrase is commonly used by Malay supremacists to denigrate Malaysians of Chinese and Indian descent, who have been in Malaysia for generations, as immigrants and therefore, second class citizens.

“I am personally, a fourth generation Malaysian. My great-grandfather came from Sumatra... and that is how I became a Malaysian.. Its the same story like many of the Malaysians of Chinese, Indian, and other
descent, for whom Malaysia is THEIR COUNTRY OF BIRTH...

“So many of us Malaysians, can trace our origins to other countries and places... China, Sumatra, Java, India, Middle East, Europe, Australia, New Zealand... the list goes on..

“As a fourth generation Malaysian, I find it untenable and insulting to be told by anyone, to 'balik ke negara awak'. MY NEGARA IS MALAYSIA!”

- TMI