The Malaysian Insight

UMNO has to remain in power as the party is the only one that Malays can count on to uphold and fight for their rights, said Umno treasurer Salleh Said Keruak today.

Speaking to the party’s Bukit Mertajam division delegates, he said if Umno diminished, it was not impossible that Malay rights would go with it.

“Umno has an ideology and is always a party with purpose, and its purpose is to defend our rights.”

He said Malays would lose their supremacy if Umno lost power.

“That is it. What is our purpose? To defend the powers,” he said.

He said of the five rights in enshrined in the Federal Constitution, four of them belonged to Malays.

“Constitutional monarchy, Islam as the religion of the federation, the Malay language and Malay special rights belong to us. Only right of citizenship the Malaysia shared with others. These (rights) were fundamental to Umno fight (for nationhood),” he added.

Umno had to be defended because it was the party that could defend Malay rights.

“So, those who are indebted to Umno have to support it. The fight must go on. If Umno disappeared from the world, it is not impossible that Malay rights would also go with it.” 

He also told delegates not to listen to rumours and always trust their leaders.

Salleh cited whistleblower site Sarawak Report as one of the sources of rumours.

“Who is behind it? They are foreign people. Why must we believe them? They do not even vote here. But sadly they are working with Malaysians who sold the country for their interest. 
“If you want to fight, be a man and fight in the election and let the public decide,” he said.

He said Umno and Barisan Nasional-led government never discriminated against people of other races. 

“We give to all. Look at BR1M. Whoever is eligible will get it no matter which party they support. Same with the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), the train line passes through Selangor, a state ruled by the opposition. We do not care. We serve the people. These are the government’s policies. (Prime Minister) Najib’s policies.”

He said the support of Malays and the non-Malays towards BN and Umno appeared to be picking up.

“They want stability and they want a government that can serve the people.”

On the possibility of BN taking over Penang from DAP, Salleh said it was all up to the voters.

“But they have to be given a choice. So, we will prepare a manifesto for the people of Penang and we will look into the 51 promises that the opposition had made during its nine years in power in Penang,” he said.

Also present at the meeting were Bukit Mertajam Umno division chief Musa Sheikh Fadzir. – July 23, 2017.