Vote for the survival of the Malays, urges Anina

As the 14th general election looms, former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) member Anina Saadudin has urged Malays to vote for a party that will ensure the survival of their future generations.

“Now, the Malays are split among five parties - Umno, Bersatu, Amanah, PAS and PKR.

“From a big race, we are now split into small groups. This is dangerous for our race. We need to think about the survival of the Malay race (in this country).

“So when you vote, don’t just vote for yourself but think about voting for the future, vote for your children and for the future of this nation,” Anina told a press conference at the soft launch of her new non-governmental organisation (NGO) - Empirical Malaysia.

'We are not racist'

Registered last October, the NGO aims to produce empirical studies on economic issues faced by the Malays and the bumiputera.

“If Malay politics fails, then the economic situation of the Malays will fail because economic initiatives are dependent on the initiatives of political leaders,” Anina added.

She identified the main economic issue faced by the Malays to be a "disparity gap" in the economic ability between them and other races.

Anina also vowed to formulate empirical-based policy recommendations on how existing pro-bumiputera government schemes and policies could be improved to close this gap.

"Solving this (disparity gap) will help solve the bigger issue.

"It will bring unity to all races," she said, stressing that defending the rights of one's race did not mean one was racist.

Anina maintained her NGO was independent and not funded by the government, She also vowed never to attempt crowdfunding.

"We will get funds from private entities. That way, we will be free to comment on anyone, our hands won't be tied.

"We don't want to do crowdfunding because we don't want to burden the rakyat. We don't need millions, unlike Invoke," she said, referring to the think-tank headed by PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

Anina, who left Bersatu last September after lamenting that the party was badly governed by leaders who could not take criticism, added that she has left politics for good and would now focus on using Empirical Malaysia as her platform for activism. - Mkini