Ramasamy to dons: Did you actually mean ketuanan?

A speech at the Malay Dignity Congress (above) has led to a war of words between P Ramasamy of DAP, formerly a political science professor, and a group of professors.

GEORGE TOWN: Senior DAP member P Ramasamy has asked a group of professors to state where it drew the line between free and hate speech, in a continuing row over a hawkish speech by Zainal Kling at the Malay Dignity Congress a few weeks ago

Ramasamy, who is deputy chief minister II of Penang, said he was surprised that the National Professors Council (MPN) continued to back Zainal, despite the speech being indefensible.

“Why should MPN come to Zainal’s defence knowing very well that his race-baiting was beyond any rational discourse. There’s a clear line to be drawn as what is permissible and what is not,” said Ramasamy.

He said he was seriously taken aback with MPN’s support of Zainal. “It is morally indefensible,” said Ramasamy, who was a professor of political science for nearly two decades at a local university.

The professors’ council had criticised Ramasamy earlier today for claiming that the group was politically-aligned in support of Zainal. It said Zainal’s remarks about the social contract on Malay rights was based on fact. The group also wished him well in clearing his name over his links with a defunct terrorist group.

Ramasamy said rather than focusing on him, the MPN should explain what the content of the “social contract” was, rather than repeating how the contract was reached.

“I am not denying that there were serious talks between the Malays and non-Malays in drafting the Merdeka constitution. But if Zainal was referring to that, he must say so.

“Zainal bandied about the social contract that was apparently forsaken by the non-Malays,but never told us about the contract’s content. Given this, am I wrong to question Zainal?

“Is this ‘social contract’ a euphemism for ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy)? Pray tell,” he said.

Ramasamy also responded to MPN’s potshots about LTTE and being out of touch from the academic world. He said his contract with UKM was not renewed for “not toeing the line”.

He said MPN should stop being condescending but engage in a proper substantive debate. The group should also name those of its leaders who were critical of him, rather than issuing statements as a group.

“MPN should not shed crocodile tears about my fate, whether or not I am linked with terrorist groups, that, I leave it to the law enforcement.

“Whether I am investigated or not, I will discharge my responsibilities as an elected representative without fear or favour. Because unlike others, I would not earn a fat salary pretending to be what I am not,” he said. - FMT