Activist urges rebrand for Malay race grown synonymous with graft

Mohd Farhan Darwis Mohd Farhan Darwis Updated 1 year ago · Published on 29 Jul 2022 10:21AM · 5 Comments

Some politicians are said to be all too willing to play the religion card for personal gain. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 29, 2022.

MALAY scholars must not keep silent but develop solutions to problems affecting the race, activist Nizam Mahshar said today.

The Malay Survival Committee chairman said that Malay politics today is synonymous with corruption and distrust.

He said there is also a tendency to play the race and religion card for personal gain.

“Today’s Malay intellectuals and figures have the responsibility of coming forward to make sure the Malays are aware of today’s political scenario,” said Nizam at the closing session of the roundtable conference entitled “Rebranding of Malay Politics” in Seri Kembangan yesterday evening.

He said political leaders today are unable to solve the problems of the Malays.

He said the Malays should rebrand itself “as a superior and authoritative race”.

“The nation needs to go through a process of strengthening, redefining, rebranding or it will become extinct,” he said.

Nizam said the Malay community must choose leaders who are clean and free compared to existing leaders.

The meeting also saw the establishment of the National Malay Forum to educate the Malay community. 

Former prime minister and Pejuang chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad is patron and adviser to the group.

He delivered the event’s keynote speech.

Professor Ahmad Murad Merican of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization art International Islamic University is the spokesman for the forum.

Malay image

Murad, in his presentation, said Malays must re-examine themselves.

“What values do the Malays want to be associated with? The term ‘Malay’ has now become a word that is belittled, hated, and insulted.

“To be a Malay is to be negative, lazy, corrupt, hypocritical, racist and so on; all this must change. The Malay image must change along with Malay culture and political behaviour, re-branding is also necessary at the international level,” he said.

Pejuang deputy president Marzuki Yahya said Malays should reject cheap politics and return to their true values.

However, he said his is just a small party that cannot change the mindset of the Malay community overnight.

“Pejuang and other Malay parties are far from able to change the Malay mind and politics or raise a new Malay government with integrity, dignity and ability.

“This requires the cooperation of all parties including Malay political NGO groups, grassroots leadership, women and youth leadership, academia, intellectuals, professionals, educators, and all Malays who want to uphold truth and justice,” he said.

“Malay politics that is stable, good and has integrity is also able to guarantee goodness and justice for all people regardless of race, religion and geography.” – July 29, 2022.

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Comments

  • Yes educate yourself, read more and open your eyes and mind to the world, learn English and other languages. Willing to except change. Dont be jaguh kampong or katak di bawah tempurung.

    Posted 1 year ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Superior race? Hahaha!

    Posted 1 year ago by Jeff MC · Reply

  • Yup keep electing Najib, Zahid and the 400 thieves and sucking up to them for freebies. enlarge the crutch mentalities and keep increasing privileges and we will not associate all the adjectives with you guys.

    Posted 1 year ago by Alphonz Jayaraman · Reply

  • Superior race, but walking around with crutches even though there is nothing wrong with them.

    Posted 1 year ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • My honest opinion is that the conference is a good start to a revival. The sound bites are mostly encouraging except for a couple.

    This guy Nizam said ".....the Malays should rebrand itself as a superior and authoritative race......" That the problem and it didn't work in the past 60+ years. This borders on Nazism. Nizam should have chosen a better terminology.

    Marzuki was quotes as saying ".....requires the cooperation of all parties including Malay political NGO groups, grassroots leadership, women and youth leadership, academia, intellectuals, professionals, educators, and all Malays who want to uphold truth and justice.......... This is rather insular and short sighted. Cooperation with non-Malays which makes up 30% of the population is also crucial to the upliftment of the Malays.

    The Malay community, in wanting to preserve their Agenda has often disregarded the benefit of being in a multi-racial society. You cannot remain as "katak dibawa tempurung" if you want to address your mindset.

    Posted 1 year ago by Super Duper · Reply