Friday, April 02, 2010

Perkasa slams Chinese politicians for calling it racist

Perkasa's youth chief, Arman Abu Hanifah (centre) accuses two Chinese leaders from Gerakan and MCA of maligning the movement. - Picture by Choo Choy May
Malay rights group Perkasa today accused two ethnic Chinese Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders of maligning their movement and is demanding a public apology within the next 48 hours.

Its youth chief Arman Azha Abu Hanifah slammed Gerakan’s Datuk Teng Hock Nan and MCA’s Low Chew June for their comments on the non-governmental organisation’s (NGO) inaugural congress officiated by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad last Saturday.
Arman Azha insisted the duo had no right to interfere, and had incorrectly labelled Perkasa a “racist and right-wing organisation”.

He denied they were “racist”, “right-wing” or “extremist” and said they were only “protecting” the rights of the Malay community as laid out in the Federal Constitution.

“I give them 48 hours for them to retaliate and apologise to ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir and Perkasa because all the while Tun Mahathir and Perkasa have been protecting the Perlembagaan Negara.

“If they don’t apologise, it shows they are not respecting the Perlembagaan Negara,” he said, referring to the Federal Constitution.
Arman Azhar (left) demands an apology from the two Chinese leaders. - Picture by Choo Choy May
 
Arman Azha questioned if the two Chinese politicians knew the provisions of the constitution.
He said they should make sure they really understood what was laid down in the nation’s founding document before they spoke out.

He told reporters at a press conference here today that the Gerakan and MCA politicians should go back for nation-building classes at the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) for a refresher course on the constitution.

Arman Azha also offered to teach them.
“Please respect the rights of our pribumi,” he asked.

He did not elaborate on the rights, except to say they were laid down in the constitution.

“If they don’t respect, something is wrong and they are not qualified to be called leaders,” he said.

If neither Teng nor Low apologised within the time frame, Arman Azha said they would then “pressure” their respective parties to suspend or even sack them.

Arman Azha stressed that Perkasa is not a political party but an NGO that represents the voice of the grassroots who are “fed up” with the attitude of politicians.

“There’s too much politicking,” he said, and made pointed references to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“They don’t show they are fighting for the rakyat. They are fighting for power,” he added.

He also condemned two vernacular newspapers, Sin Chew Daily and China Press for publishing articles attacking the Malay movement and demanded their apology within 48 hours or he would take legal action against them.

courtesy of Malaysian Insider

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