Islam dictates race above nationality, #Merah169 leader claims

Datuk Jamal Md Yunos first entered the spotlight as a spokesmen and one of the organisers of the racially-charged “red shirts” rally on September 16, which is also Malaysia Day. — Picture by Yusof Mat IsaKUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — While he would proclaim he is Malaysian first, Islam requires him to prioritise his race before his nationality, #Merah169 rally leader Datuk Jamal Md Yunos asserted in an interview last night.

The Sungai Besar Umno division chief was speaking as a guest in an online Chinese-language talk show on www.pocketimes.my, and was asked by the hosts if he identified as Malaysian first or Malay first.

Put on the spot, he first stalled for time by suggesting that the show’s two ethnic Chinese hosts would identify with their race first, but was instead met with denials.

“I will also say I am Malaysian first, of Malay descent but it is mandatory in our religion that we need to defend our race first but not oppress other races, this is my opinion,” he said.

“I am a Malay and I will defend the fate of Malays but we will never oppress the Chinese or Indians. We are one race if we go by the constitution. Surely, nothing untoward will happen in this country,” he said during the interview that ran more than an hour long.

Jamal first entered the spotlight as a spokesmen and one of the organisers of the racially-charged “red shirts” rally on September 16, which is also Malaysia Day.

The main objective of the rally was to oppose the Bersih 4 protest late last month, which called for free and fair elections, as well as for the resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, among other demands.

The Umno man was arrested overnight last Friday under Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code after he allegedly warned of a repeat rally on the weekend that could lead to a possible riot at Petaling Street.

He made headlines again yesterday after a local daily quoted him as saying he is planning another mass rally in Kajang to protest against PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the Kajang assemblyman over her failure in solving her constituency’s woes.

So far, Umno has yet to take any disciplinary action against him, with Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin saying the management committee will “act accordingly” if the police find any criminal element in his case.

- malaymail