ATTENDEES of the Malay Dignity Congress agreed with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s call to work harder to raise their standard of living and preserve Malay dignity.

Abd Ghafar Abd Ghani, 65, a businessman from Malacca, said there was no threat to Malay dignity, as has been perceived by some, and that Dr Mahathir was right to point out that the Malays have to put in effort to progress in life.

He added that the resolutions mooted to empower the community in the economic, political, cultural, religious and education sectors were not new. 

“This has been going on for a while. It is just that now, they feel dissatisfied. What was said in the resolution is not different from what they have been fighting for all along,” he told The Malaysian Insight.  

Dr Mahathir, in his speech at the congress, had said there was a growing perception that Malays’ dignity was under threat but in reality, no such thing existed. 

He added that the Malays themselves have to work hard to change their fate.

The prime minister said Malays themselves had become a bane on their own community.

Meanwhile, another attendee who only wanted to be known as Sam said the congress was helpful in enlightening the people, especially the younger generation, on provisions in the federal constitution. 

“It is a good step. I hope more programmes like this will be held so that everybody can learn,” he said. 

“Everybody has their rights, so let’s live in harmony like back in the 1960s and 1970s We want that back. Hopefully, we can achieve it.”

Muhamad Izman Mohd Zamri, 23, meanwhile, said the congress was a good move to unite the Malays.

“Dr Mahathir is correct. We have to motivate ourselves. He said the Malays are lazy. How long do we plan to be spoon-fed for? This should be taken as a constructive criticism  to encourage the Malays,” Izman said. 

He added that although the leaders present at the congress had different political ideologies and belonged to both sides of the divide, they had put that aside and come together for the sake of the community. 

Mohd Sidek, 68, from Kuala Terengganu, said while the premier had a point, leaders were sometimes unaware of conditions on the ground.

“We (Malays) also want to have better incomes. When the Chinese have contracts, they hardly employ Malays to work for them. The Malays, on the other hand, look for people who are wiling to work for less,” he said. 

“Foreigners are also wiling to work for the minimum wage of RM1,100,” he added. 

Sidek, however, said there were many hardworking Malays as well.

Ismaqil Ismail, 24, from Perak, took Dr Mahathir’s words as motivation to work harder. 

He said the congress was also an opportunity to bring student leaders closer to the government and civil society groups. 

“The resolution is not final but we believe that Dr Mahathir wants us to work towards our goals instead of expecting help,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said the take-home lesson from the congress was that the community should work and study harder. 

“The things that every Malay should take back from the congress today is that they must work harder, study harder, and do a lot of business,” he said. 

Student leaders mooted several resolutions that had been forwarded to Dr Mahathir. Sentiments also ran high in the stadium, with chants of “Hidup Tun” when the premier took to the stage to deliver his address. 

The event, which saw Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam packed almost to the brim, also saw a performance by artiste Siti Nurhaliza, who sang  Anak Kecil Main Api, as the prime minister made his way into the stadium. – October 6, 2019.