The era of the elite determining the country’s direction is over and it is now time for ordinary Malaysians to rise and have a greater say in the nation’s future, said Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
Sanusi claimed that the wealthy make up an estimated 10% of the population but control between 75% and 80% of the country’s wealth, while the remaining 90% of Malaysians share only about 25% of the wealth.
“So I feel this is unfair. It is time for ordinary people to determine their own future.
“Do not leave your fate in the hands of the elite. They do not understand us,” he said.
Sanusi was speaking during the Anak Muda Podcast held in conjunction with the 72nd PAS Muktamar at the Pusat Tarbiah Islamiah Kelantan (Putik) in Pengkalan Chepa on Thursday.
He said members of the elite often struggled to understand the everyday language used by ordinary people, let alone the realities and hardships they experienced.
According to Sanusi, this was why some members of the elite became upset when he used terms associated with ordinary Malaysians, particularly when his language was considered rough and subsequently interpreted as rude, gangster-like or abusive.
“My language may be a little rough, brutal and make some people uncomfortable, but this is my language, and the language of the many.
“We cannot use aristocratic or bombastic language that is difficult for people to understand,” he said.
Sanusi stressed that he was not referring to every member of the elite, saying some could still understand the struggles faced by ordinary people. However, he said such individuals were often described as those who were ‘born in a rice granary’.
“Those who are born in a granary or among sacks of rice do not understand poor people. They only pretend to understand, but actually they don’t.
“So I speak, lead and handle matters from the perspective of people who are struggling,” he said.
