Loud protests and vociferous demands from right-wing groups for the nation’s largest party to ensure Malay dominance through its policies is not an indication of Umno’s failure to do so, observers noted.
The Najib Administration’s proposed New Economic Model (NEM), aimed at healing and propelling the country’s ailing economy by opening it up and abolishing subsidies, has drawn flak from Malay nationalist groups like Perkasa and the umbrella grouping Malay Consultative Council (MPM).
Perkasa, a member of MPM, is worried that the NEM will increase the monopoly of the country’s economy by the Chinese community.
But despite the glaring discontent, Perkasa president and MPM ideologue Datuk Ibrahim Ali said Umno have done well in preserving Malay interest.
“What we have today is the product of the governance of Umno and the Alliance it led,” the independent Pasir Mas MP told The Malaysian Insider.
The former Umno strongman also said it was wrong to conclude that the demands made by his group and the MPM indicate Umno’s failure to safeguard the interest of the country’s majority race.
However, opposition leaders have come to question the purpose of Perkasa and MPM’s existence.
It is a contradiction that the groups feel the necessity to make such demands but back Umno’s ability to fulfill the demands said some Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
“Just like any other party, Umno has got its strength and weaknesses but I wouldn’t look at it from that angle. Perkasa has got nothing to do with Umno. We are an NGO and we have the right to express ourselves just like other race-based NGOs,” Ibrahim said.
Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan, in defence of his party, said Umno have been doing nothing but protect Malay interest and dismissed accusations that the Malay-based party have been short on delivering the goods.
“In fact we have been over-protecting Malay interests for so long that what we do, the opposition are capitalising on the issue and use it against us,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
“You can see the overwhelming presence of Malays in the public and private sectors,” he said further, adding that all this can be attributed to Umno’s blood and sweat.
But Nur Jazlan stressed that the likes of Perkasa and its “extreme demands” should not be entertained by an Umno led by a leader, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is bidding for lost non-Malay support through merit and not race-based policies.
UKM-based political scientist, Professor Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff, too believes that it was inaccurate to interpret the demands made by Perkasa and MPM as Umno’s failure to safeguard Malay interest.
“What these two have is a complementary relationship. Umno is still strong in its fight to uphold Malay interest. The sentiment is still very strong within the party,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
But the pressure coming from Perkasa said Mohammad Agus is not withstanding the intrinsic fact that it needs Umno to actualise their demands.
Hence, Umno, is now placed in a difficult spot of having manoeuvre between maintaining its core Malay base while avoiding alienating the much needed support of non-Malays.
The political scientist, however, questioned the motive and relevance of groups like Perkasa in the context of a multi-racial nation and the government’s own wish to appear moderate while being obstructed by the hawkish elements from within.
“These demands are only regressive which will only make it difficult for things to change,” he lamented.
courtesy ofMalaysian Insider
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