‘ARE MALAYS COWARDS – DARE NOT FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS AGAINST OTHER RACES?’: EVEN IBRAHIM ALI GETS OFFENDED BY EX-IGP’S CLAIM MALAYS ARE ‘TIMID’ – THOSE DAYS ARE LONG GONE, IN FACT IT’S NON-MALAYS WHO HAVE MORE TO FEAR NOW

KUALA LUMPUR – Malay rights group Perkasa today questioned former police chief Hanif Omar over a suggestion that the community had become timid in defending their rights.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said the group’s existence as a champion of Malay rights was proof that Hanif was wrong.

“So when I read Hanif’s statement, I began to question myself. Am I a coward? This is why I am disappointed,” he told reporters today.

Yesterday, Hanif, who was the inspector-general of police from 1974 to 1994, said Malays were afraid to defend their rights.

He cited as example the recent controversy sparked by Lim Guan Eng over the use of Mandarin in statements by the Ministry of Finance, saying there should have been a stronger reaction.

Ibrahim said Malays never questioned the rights of non-Malays because they were raised to respect other communities.

“You don’t see Malays questioning how non-Muslims practise their faith. In fact, when Hindus celebrate Thaipusam, we respect them and even stop by the roadside to see the celebration.”

Meanwhile, Ibrahim said the Registrar of Societies (RoS) had yet to approve his party, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia.

Ibrahim said PPBM was approved within a month after Pakatan Harapan took over Putrajaya and said he hoped that under the new government, his party’s registration would also be approved.

“The party poses no threat to other parties and is led by a nobody. So, please approve us as soon as possible,” he said.

– FMT