KUCHING, Oct 8: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing is perplexed over the notion of ‘Malaysia is for only the Malays’ as expressed by academician Professor Datuk Zainal Kling recently.
Zainal was reporting as expressing this sentiment during his opening remarks at the Malay Dignity Congress held over the weekend.
“As an anthropologist, I would like to ask Prof Zainal Kling on what basis or criterion is Malaysia “untuk Orang Melayu sahaja”. Is it because of history, numerical superiority, religion or custom?” queried Masing.
Masing, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, noted Malaysia was formed through the Federation of Malaysia and that it belongs to all races who were born and raised here.
“At an early age I was told that Malaysia belongs to all races who have Malaysian IC, regardless of race, religion or place of domicile.
“Thus, when Malaysia was under threat, we took up arms to defend her. In taking up arms, the authorities, most of whom then were Malays, never asked for our loyalty. Now we are told that Malaysia doesn’t belong to us.
“My advice to Semenanjung Malays, in fighting for their rights, please don’t exclude us. All of us (non-Malays) are Malaysians and Malaysia is our country. Please do not exclude us from the country we love and willingly defend with our lives.
“Racial politics has no place in a multi-racial nation like Malaysia,” he reiretated. — DayakDaily
