Govt not behind the ’1Melayu, 1Bumi’ idea, says Najib

SERDANG: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said today the government had nothing to do with the “1Melayu, 1Bumi” movement proposed in a Utusan Malaysia newspaper report.

“That’s the personal opinion of the writer. As for the government, we have a very clear concept which we will continue to work on.

“And, as for the Malays, it is most important that they support Umno if they want to be politically united,” Bernama quoted him as saying after addressing a gathering of farmers, breeders and fishermen, here.

Utusan Malaysia assistant editor-in-chief Zaini Hassan, in his “Cuit” column two days ago, said the DAP had managed to unite the Chinese politically and, in his opinion, the Malays should launch the “1Melayu, 1Bumi” unity movement.

Asked about the proposal by DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang for the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) to merge with the DAP, Najib said he did not wish to comment on an opposition issue.

However, he said he did not see how SNAP could work with the DAP because their ideologies were different.

Two days ago, Lim proposed that the DAP and SNAP merge in time for the next general election in order to better serve the Iban-Dayak community in Sarawak, saying that such a merger would accelerate the Iban-Dayak political awakening following the recently concluded Sarawak election.

Asked about calls from several quarters for Taib Mahmud to step down as the Sarawak chief minister, Najib said: “I have made my comment … give me time.”

On the reported dissatisfaction of the people towards the announced 1Malaysia e-mail account for all Malaysian citizens, the prime minister said that as it was a private sector project, the explanation should come from them.

“Let them do the explanation … not everything’s on me because it’s their proposal. It’s a private sector initiative and it doesn’t involve public money. Let them take the initiative to explain (to the public).”

1Malaysia has become 1Joke

Meanwhile senior DAP leader Teresa Kok has expressed her anger at Najib over his refusal to condemn Utusan Malaysia for its racist invective.

She said Utusan Malaysia’s call to Umno to spearhead the ’1Melayu 1Bumi’ movement was the latest public provocation by the daily to sow hatred, fear and suspicion among right-thinking Malaysians.

“Utusan’s call is outrageous because it suggests extremist, far-right, Malay supremacist tendencies which are totally against the 1Malaysia concept preached by Najib.

“What is most outrageous of all is Najib’s tolerance of and refusal to condemn Utusan Malaysia’s racist invective,” she said today.

She said Najib’s reasoning that it was a personal opinion of the writer was a “feeble excuse”.

She added that Najib, as the prime minister for all Malaysians, should have condemned Utusan Malaysia outright without hesitation and ordered the suspension of the writer with immediate effect.

“His inaction proves once and for all that he couldn’t care less should Malaysia be further divided along racist lines or should any harm befall Malaysians of Chinese descent following the establishment of ’1Melayu 1Bumi’,” she said.

“Najib’s 1Malaysia concept is really 1Joke with no substance, no credibility whatsoever.,” she added.

- Bernama/FMT