Malaysia a homeland and not a place of transit, says Azalina

 Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said reminds PN election director Sanusi Nor that the constitution guarantees the rights and status of every citizen regardless of ancestry.

‘The reality is that for millions of Malaysians of Chinese and Indian descent, Malaysia is not a place of transit. Malaysia is their homeland,’ said Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said.

SEREMBAN:

Remarks by Perikatan Nasional election director Sanusi Nor about ancestral homelands should not be taken lightly, Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said said today.

She said such rhetoric would create the impression that Malaysians of Chinese and Indian descent have another homeland, while suggesting that only Malays truly belong to Malaysia.

“The reality is that for millions of Malaysians of Chinese and Indian descent, Malaysia is not a place of transit. Malaysia is their homeland,” she said in response to Sanusi’s remark that “the Chinese have China, the Indians have India, the Cambodians have Cambodia, and the Malays only have Malaysia”.

Azalina said the Federal Constitution establishes the position of Islam, the institution of the Malay Rulers, and the rights of Malays and Bumiputera. “The same constitution also guarantees the legitimate rights and status of every citizen regardless of their ancestry.”

Azalina, who is also the minister for law and institutional reform, said every legitimate citizen shares the same homeland, is protected by the same constitution and has the right to live in peace and dignity.

She urged political leaders and election campaign workers to be responsible for every word they utter amid the heated campaign for the Negeri Sembilan state election.

“Issues involving race, religion and the royal institution should not be used as tools to incite anger or fear for the purpose of gaining votes,” she said.

She said the people of Negeri Sembilan deserved an election campaign focused on issues that genuinely affect their lives. - FMT