Former UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin says discussing issues affecting the Malay community should not be viewed as racist, arguing that it reflects the realities of Malaysia’s political landscape.
Khairy said political parties, whether multiracial or race-based, naturally raise issues that matter to the communities they represent.
He said it was unfair for discussions about Malay interests to be labelled or misinterpreted as playing on racial sentiments.
“It cannot be wrong to talk about the concerns of the community we represent. Every political party, whether multiracial or one representing a specific ethnic group, will naturally raise issues that are important to its constituents,” he said.
He added that discussing matters affecting Malays, Chinese vernacular education or Indian estate workers should not automatically be regarded as promoting racial politics.
“Talking about Malay interests, Chinese schools or the welfare of Indian estate workers does not mean we are being racist. These are legitimate issues affecting different communities,” he said.
Khairy made the remarks after attending the Lepak Pemimpin: Economy, Branding Power, Influence and Storytelling forum during the CTOS SME Biz Day Penang event.
He was responding to comments by Pakatan Harapan (PH) communications director Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil, who had accused him of using Malay and Islamic issues to revive his political influence following his return to UMNO.
Fahmi had also said Khairy’s remarks linking possible cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) to PH’s need to be more sensitive to Malay concerns were unsurprising.
Responding to the criticism, Khairy said that when representing UMNO, it was his responsibility to voice the concerns of the Malay community.
“We also do not criticise other parties when they raise issues affecting the Chinese or Indian communities. That is simply the reality of politics in Malaysia,” he said.
