UMNO vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin has questioned Putrajaya for using public universities to hold a Malay congress next month.

Higher education institutions not be included in politics as their main focus is on developing students’ knowledge, he said in response to news about the Malay Dignity Congress on October 6 that will be attended by Bersatu politicians.

“Why must it be organised by local universities? Our universities should focus on how to develop new knowledge, not becoming a champion of the Malays.”

“Why can’t Bersatu organise such an event itself?

“Malay rights should be championed by Malay political parties. If we have this, it is not going to surprise me if we will have a Chinese congress, Indian congress or Sabah and Sarawak congress in the future.

“Our public universities must remain neutral and apolitical. It is shameful when universities are used as tools for a political agenda,” said Khaled in a statement today.

The congress at the Axiata Arena Stadium is organised by Universiti Malaya’s Pusat Sumber Kecemerlangan Melayu in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia and Univesity Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Bersatu chairman, is to deliver a speech at the congress.

Khaled questioned the need to hold a Malay congress right after Umno and PAS had inked a charter on their political cooperation.

“Why must it be called a Malay Dignity Congress? Is it because our dignity has been ruined since Pakatan Harapan took over Putrajaya?

“Secondly, why must the congress be held right after Umno and PAS signed their unity charter? Is this to challenge the Malay-Muslim unity created by Umno and PAS and if that is the intention, why must the government use universities?”

UM’s Malay studies director Hashim Ismail, however, has been reported saying that Dr Mahathir would be present “not as prime minister but as a Malay leader”.

The congress will discuss education, religion, culture, politics and the economy from a Malay perspective.

According to Bersatu supreme council leader Dr Muhammad Faiz Bin Na’aman, Dr Mahathir is to address the use of racial and religious provocation arising from ideological differences among Malays. – September 30, 2019.