Now Annuar Musa says there is no racism in Islam

Speaking to reporters at the Mara headquarters today, Tan Sri Annuar Musa says if having a strong Malay spirit, means that he is racist, then yes, he is one. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Ahmad Muslim, September 23, 2015.Umno Supreme Council member Tan Sri Annuar Musa, who recently courted controversy for reportedly saying he was a racist, as racism was allowed in Islam, today claimed that he was misquoted.

He said that he had never claimed racism existed in Islam, and even the Prophet Muhammad, who had referred to it as "assabiyah", had condemned it.

Annuar said he only admitted to being a racist if people defined it as loving one's own race.

"Loving your own race is not wrong, it's not assabiyah. But if you oppress other races, that is assabiyah," Annuar told reporters at Majlis Amanah Rakyat's (Mara) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

"I said, if people want to say I'm racist because I have a strong Malay spirit, then yes, I am a racist, if you want to use that interpretation."

He said it was human nature to love one's own race, and said those who denied this were hypocrites.

Annuar also distanced himself from the racial statements made by the "red shirt" rally-goers, saying that he did not condone such acts and had actually cautioned leaders not to flout any laws.

He urged those who had been victimised by any rally-goers to lodge police reports over it.

"Those people are subject to the law, and action must be taken. Arrest them, simple. Nobody should be above the law," said Annuar.

He added that the rally had not been Umno's idea and they were adverse to any racial demonstration in Chinese-dominant business districts.

But, once talk of Malays protesting against Bersih 4 in the Golden Triangle gained momentum, he stepped in to the role of adviser to ensure that it did not get out of hand.

"I felt if we didn't intervene and it happened, it would have led to bloodshed and we would see a repeat of May 13," said Annuar.

This was why he moved the rally to Padang Merbok and renamed it to "Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu", he said.

"Even if you look at the 14 resolutions read out at the end, there was no mention of abolishing Chinese schools or fighting only for the Malays," said Annuar.

- TMI