DAP threat doesn't add up, let's talk real Malay issues - Zaid dares Salleh

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has dared Communication and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak to lock horns over the “real issues” affecting the Malays.

Calling it a “discussion,” he asked Salleh to name a place and time for the pair to address educational and employment opportunities for the community.

“Let's discuss the real issues: education, employment, wages and career advancement.

“Let's discuss how to make Malays relevant in this country of ours. You can decide the details such as venue and I will be there,” he said in a blog post.

Zaid, a DAP member, was responding to Salleh’s claim that DAP would seize power should it win all of its seats in the coming election.

Salleh said earlier this week that DAP would control the country if Malay voters turned against Umno.

However, Zaid argued that this does not make mathematical sense as DAP is contesting less than a third of all parliamentary seats.

"How 60 seats can control the Dewan Rakyat, which has 222 seats, baffles even the weakest mind.

"How on earth can any rational person believe the narrative that a group comprising 25 percent of the population can exert political control over the majority of 65 percent in a democratic country such as Malaysia?" he asked.

He said Umno leaders resort to talking about race and religion because it was easier than actually solving real problems affecting the Malays.

“Improving the lives of the people is not easy. Giving Malays a proper education isn't easy. It isn't easy to change their habits and attitudes...,” he added.

Zaid urged the Malay community to focus instead on the “real enemy,” namely Umno's consolidation of power – a situation which he believes worsened after the tenure of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Malays have so much power, so why then is our share of the economic pie getting progressively smaller compared to the days when Mahathir was prime minister?” he asked. - Mkini