The Malaysian Insider

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Khairy Jamaluddin urged Umno Youth members today to abandon its communal outlook and siege mentality, because constitutional provisions did not make Malays special.

He said instead that “it is the performance and achievements of Malays that will determine if we are” special or extraordinary.

“My dream is to one day see local institutions of higher education filled with Malays not because of quotas, but because Malays are there based on merit.

In his first policy speech as Umno Youth Chief, Khairy said Umno should move beyond the comfort zones of a communal party perspective.

He also appeared to be stopping the wing’s practice of pushing the party to the far right, adding that the Malay nationalist party cannot afford to be ideologically inconsistent.

“We are now at a crossroads of our cause, where we can choose to remain on the same path with the same style and methods.

“We can continue with the chest-thumping rhetoric, warning other races never to challenge this or that,” said Khairy to some 800 Umno Youth delegates.

“This option is easy, and may promise a measure of popularity within the party. But, we must ask ourselves, is this what Malaysians — Malays included — really want from Umno,” he added.

Khairy who won the Youth chief contest despite facing two opponents who were campaigning for Umno to be more exclusive, also told the wing’s delegates to embrace Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s message of unity.

“In this new context, do we want the President to speak about a transformation — removing barriers between races and communities — whilst Umno Youth stubbornly refuses to change, and instead, continues to voice something different from the President?” asked Khairy.

However Khairy said that Umno Youth will not abandon the Malay agenda but at the same time will assume the responsibility of leading other races too.

“Some may wonder if we should fight for other communities if they question our position as Malays. It is here that our leadership credentials will be tested,” he said.

“As the group of people given the responsibility and privilege to lead, Malays cannot simply follow the common beat — that would not be leadership. Instead, as leaders, Malays must rise above and go the extra mile,” he said.

He also called on Umno Youth leaders to get rid of their siege mentality and to look beyond Article 153 of the Federal Constitution that guarantees the special position of the Malays, adding that it is almost impossible to remove the constitutional provision.

“I speak of a generational challenge because for too long, Malays and Umno have been caught in a mindset that is negative and overly defensive,” said Khairy.

“We feel as though we are constantly under siege, and all our efforts appear to be channelled towards protecting the Malay special position. I urge Malays, beginning with the youth, to get out of this siege mentality,” he said.

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