Malay leadership
Not supremacy, not dominance
These are outdated, says UMNO Youth leader, and whoever ultimately wins - whether Barisan or Pakatan - a Malay will lead Malaysia..
July 7, 2009

Malay leadership is divided between the UMNO and the opposition Justice Party (Keadilan), in association with the PAS, the obvious factor in Malaysian politics is, and will always be, Malay leadership.

This was the theme of an interview by the controversial UMNO Youth leader, Khiary Jamaluddin, in Sin Chew Daily.

The son-in-law of former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said that the so-called Malay supremacy or Malay dominance was an outdated ideology.

It is also a phenomenon that does not exist, but Malay leadership is an indisputable fact.

The current political battle in the country was not about Malay supremacy or Malay political power, but about the role the Malays play as leaders in the political landscape.

He said that whether it is Barisan Nasional (BN) or Pakatan Rakyat (led by Anwar Ibrahim), Malay leadership is the reality and even if Pakatan Rakyat was the ruling party, the prime minister would still be a Malay.

The Malaysia ruled by BN is not dominated by Malays, but is insetad “led by Malay under the true spirit of partnership”.

Local observers commented to a local tv station that what Khairy (known as KJ) was trying has to emphasise that Malay leadership in any ruling alliance is vital for Malaysia to survive politically and this should include Nik Aziz and Anwar Ibrahim, who are Malays in the opposition.

"Khairy never said out that it is only the UMNO Malay leadership that is crucial for Malaysia. This also implies that
Anwar Ibrahim's leadership is vital too, and that the Malaysians can count on Anwar as well as Nik Aziz in the future. Change is thus possible." added one observer.

“I don’t think the so-called Malay supremacy or Malay dominance can still exist in today’s Malaysian society; however, if you are referring to Malay leadership, it is an undisputable fact, Khairy said in the interview.

“Even for Pakatan Rakyat, when they have to choose a Prime Minister, the candidate must be a Malay. In BN, UMNO is as well playing a leading role,” he added.

He believed that no one, including Chinese, will question the Malay sovereignty of the Malay rulers.

“We must stress that it is a Malay leadership under a faithful cooperation.

“Similarly, Pakatan Rakyat is led by Anwar Ibrahim. He is the opposition leader and I believe that Pakatan Rakyat accept to have a Malay Prime Minister,” he said.

Khairy's views may not be accepted by all within the UMNO's circle and could become a much debated issue in the ruling Malay party. In the past UMNO had always taken strong measures against those having different views and opinions on the Malay leadership and Malay authority within the party, added the observer, said wfol.tv.

Text of Khiary's exclusive interview in Sin Chew newspaper:
(Khiary: But I don’t want to be an opposition in the ruling Barisan Nasional. What we want is to gain victory in the general elections. I don’t want to be a hero. I don’t want to openly criticise the Prime Minister, which is tantamount to committing a suicide.)

By Tay Tian Yan and Hwn Yaul Len.
Changing the confrontation approach

Question: It was 10 years ago when I first met you, you were so young and my first impression of you was you were an open-minded impartial Malay of the new generation. But after you have joined politics, you gradually turned extreme and some even called you a racist. I would like to know what made you changed along the process?
Answer: I don’t think that I’ve changed. I think it is a misunderstanding or they have made emotional reports on my remarks. Perhaps, it was because of the emergence of misunderstanding among the racial groups in the then Malaysian society. Thus, a lot of things have been inadvertently misinterpreted.
For example, former UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s act of waving the keris at the UMNO General Assembly has led to various arguments and caused a negative impression.
When I joined UMNO, I had a wider range of views on Malay community issues, but I never have the idea to rule out other races. However, when you are fighting for a racial group, your speeches would be inevitably more radical.
This does not only happen to me, but as well as MCA, MIC and even DAP. However, there will be mutual understanding among the Youth wings of BN.
And now, we have changed the way we do things and we have got a message from the past general elections.

Q: Taking the Penang issue and your remarks at the UMNO General Assembly as examples, some people said that you gain Malays’ support by playing up with racial issues, is it true?
A: I will keep doing so or go worse if I want to do it to gain support. But I don’t think so. Some of my remarks were directed against some issues, the Penang issue for example. I was just telling a fact: Penang Malays are lagging behind and the state government must do something. I didn’t say that the Malays have been marginalised. According to our observations, Penang Malays are indeed living in poverty. I was just telling a fact and I hope that the Penang Government will concern about it.

Q: But you did not mention about poor Indians?
A: I did. I did express my concern about the poverty issue of all racial groups in the Parliament. But as the Deputy Chief of UMNO Youth, of course I had to give priority to the Malays. In my constituency Rembau, I helped Malays, Chinese and Indians.
But the people thought that I was a racist at that time. In fact, I have never thought to be a racist at all.
Some said that I supported the New Economic Policy (NEP) at the UMNO General Assembly. I think there is nothing wrong with it. The ultimate goal of NEP is to eliminate poverty. At the same time, we have to ensure Malays to success in the business field.
Am I forbidden to say this?
But some distorted my remarks and some even said I was asking for 60% of quota. I was just refuting Centre for Policy Initiatives director Dr Lim Teck Ghee’s study. He said Malays already have 40% but I think his calculation is incorrect. I said that according to his calculation, then we should have 50% or even 60%.
But it turned out that I was asking for 60%. In fact, it was not my intention at all.

Q: You said that you have changed the way of doing things, can you give an example?
A: Perhaps, my way of doing things was unacceptable in the past. That’s why I keep learning. I must learn from the past and adjust our approach. Now, I want to make sure every decision I made must first be accepted by BN’s Youth wings. I don’t want to argue with MCA Youth, Gerakan Youth or MIC Youth through newspapers, giving the impression that we are unable to achieve a consensus.
In addition, we must get in touch with youths of other races to understand their thoughts. Therefore, I had a dialogue with Eight Malaysian Chinese Youth Organisation not long ago while MCA Youth Chief Dr Wee Ka Siong also had a dialogue with 48 Malay youth organisations.
Only through this way, we can understand the needs of youths of different races and build mutual trust. We start from mutual trust and try to understand each other’s requests.

Q: Is this the lesson you learn from the general elections?
A: It is not entirely the lesson of the general elections. In fact, before the general elections, we already believed that we must strengthen the BN Youths and we must do something. Whether it is the general elections, these things must be done.
We are now implementing the One Malaysia concept promoted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. We must prove that we can actually live under one Malaysia. Of course, this is based on political needs but because it is the right thing to do, we must do it for the future of our country.
Starting from self-changing

Q: Would you wave the keris at the next UMNO Youth General Meeting?
A: We’ll see how things go (haha)!

Q: Do you mean that you are reserving a stand for this issue?
A: Haha, I’m not reserving a stand, I know what to do. You will see.

Q: Some people said that you have changed and became more impartial, is it true?
A: I have not changed, perhaps the way have. Perhaps my remarks are less radical and I’m calmer now. In this respect, there is a change indeed.
We took the confrontation approach last time and it was neither good for BN Youths nor constructive.
Therefore, we must change. But I can’t ask others to change, thus I start from self-changing. As a leader, I have to take the initiative to change.

Q: Shouldn’t you make it clear by saying that “I’m not going to wave the keris”?
A: I’ll give you a surprise at that time! Haha, just give me a chance to bring the people a surprise!
When you give us a surprise! Haha, give me a chance to bring people to surprise you!

Q: MCA is currently in low morale, do you have any advice for them?
A: I don’t want to advise any BN member party, who am I to advise them? We are facing problems ourselves. However, we will mutually support and cooperate with each other.
We must be faithful partners. We must share the responsibility and together, we face the accusations against the Chinese community.
What I want to do is to cooperate with MCA and other member parties. Also, we must have moe frequent interactions and build a mutual trust relationship.

Q: Although some said that Khairy has changed but some insisted that: black could never turn into other colours…
A: Let the time prove it then. I can’t guarantee you what the future will be.
I’m tired.

Q: You seem to have keeping a low profile after Najib made the cabinet reshuffle announcement, why?
A: It is not entirely true. I do my political work as usual and serve the people of my constituency. You think I’ve been keeping a low profile maybe because the media are not interested in me. My activities are rarely reported nowadays…

Q: How do you feel?
A: I’m alright, I’m very good. I met the Prime Minister before the cabinet reshuffle. He explained the reason to me and I accepted it. I want to do well in leading UMNO Youth. If everyone becomes a minister, then no one is going to take care of the parties.
I don’t have to be a minister. Whether a minister or a deputy minister; whether it is the first time or the last time contesting, I don’t really care much.
I never thought whether it is because Najib has no faith in me, I don’t like malicious guess. I believe his words and I don’t want to think too much.
Of course, many like to sow discord in politics. If someone is trying to do so in front of me, I’ll ask him to go away. I don’t like to listen.

Q: Are you having a close relationship with the Prime Minister?
A: Yes, I’m having a close relationship with the Prime Minister. I do what he asks me to do and at the same time, I report the feedbacks and responses to him.

Q: How about your relationship with International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir?
A: Not bad. He is now a deputy minister, very good.

Q: You have no government position but some leaders in UMNO Youth, which is led by you, are having government positions. Do you find things difficult for you?
A: You will find it difficult if you want to make things difficult for yourself. If you just openly accept it, there would be no difficulty at all.
In fact, it is better for me. As I’ve have no government position, I can speak out and make my suggestions in the Parliament. These could hardly be done by someone with a government position. I have greater freedom of speech. Moreover, I can meet anyone and discuss any issue and build mutual trust with them.
I can play different roles. Of course, I’ll not go against the government but I can voice out my views and suggestions if the government does something wrong.
But I don’t want to be an opposition in BN. What we want is to gain victory in the general elections. I don’t want to be a hero. I don’t want to openly criticize the Prime Minister, which is tantamount to committing a suicide.

Q: How do you describe your thoughts and feelings along your political path?
A: I’m just an ordinary Member of the Parliament and the UMNO Chief. This is my stage, nothing more.

Q: But you still have the opportunity to make greater political achievements, right?
A: Many people have asked me the same question. Some even said that I want to become the Prime Minister by 40 years old. Whether you believe it or not, I tell you that: I don’t care about these things at all. Even if this is my last term, I have no worry. I can still contribute in other areas.
I’m tired, I’m tired of all these. I’m alright with it if I can no longer contest in the next term, really.

Q: What are you tired of?
A: I’m tired of politics. I wish to help others but I have to join politics in order to help the people. I have to face all sorts of personal attacks, all kinds of slanders and misunderstandings.
I’m here to help, not to respond to various allegations.
If it is so hard, then just leave it…let others to do it. I’m not complaining, it is true!

Q: But you are so young, are you going to give up so soon?
A: The younger the better. Because I’m young, I can do something else.
If I was 55 or 60, would I be able to start another career?

Q: You are the current head of UMNO Youth, what is the difference between you and former Chief Hishammuddin? I mean in terms of leadership style or policies.
A: I’m taller and darker…haha! I think it is unfair to compare the leadership style. Everyone has his or her own style and way of doing things. I don’t know what is the difference, because I have been leading only for three months. Perhaps I’ll have an answer for you if you ask me a year later.

http://www.mysinchew.com/node/26864