Anwar Ibrahim’s Media Statement on Communal Politics
KENYATAAN MEDIA
UNTUK EDARAN SEGERA
11hb. Ogos 2009
Pimpinan UMNO dan konco-konco mereka memintal propaganda yang memanipulasi simbol-simbol tentang bangsa, agama dan raja dengan hasrat agar pemikiran rakyat kembali sempit dan mundur. Ini bukanlah kali pertama saya menjadi sasaran di dalam isu pengkhianatan ini. Mereka telah mencuba puluhan kali sebelumnya. Usaha terbaru dengan menghebahkan isu pengkhianatan ini jelas menjadi petanda mereka kian
terdesak.
Saya tidak berhasrat untuk terjebak di dalam pertikaian peribadi dengan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Saya akan hanya berhujah dari sudut dasar. Perlu saya tekankan pandangan saya dan Pakatan Rakyat jelas walaupun tidak siarkan oleh media milik UMNO. Kenyataan Majlis Pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat yang ditandatangani oleh YB Tuan Guru Hj Abdul Hadi Awang, YB Lim Kit Siang dan saya sendiri bersidang pada 8 September 2008, menegaskan komitmen menjunjung prinsip-prinsip dasar yang termaktub di bawah Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Ini termasuk soal-soal dasar seperti kedudukan Islam sebagai Agama Persekutuan, kedaulatan Bahasa Melayu sebagai Bahasa Kebangsaan dan mempertahankan hak bahasa ibunda, kedudukan dan kedaulatan Institusi Raja-Raja Melayu serta kedudukan hak-hak istimewa orang Melayu dan Bumiputera serta hak-hak semua kaum yang telah dijamin oleh Perlembagaan.
Kita menyakini mempunyai hujah-hujah yang cerah dan jitu untuk menangani politik kebencian pimpinan UMNO yang memperolok simbol-simbol bangsa, agama dan raja, semata-mata untuk mengekalkan kekuasaan dan menutup pekong rasuah, jenayah dan penyalahgunaan kuasa.
Pengkhianatan amanah rakyat oleh pimpinan UMNO berterusan dengan skandal penyelewengan dana awam berbillion ringgit di atas nama komisen pembelian senjata, mengaut saham, kontrak dan lesen yang diperuntukkan untuk bumiputera tetapi dikaut oleh keluarga serta kroni mereka.
Kita juga tidak lupa bahawa pimpinan UMNO lah yang menghina instutusi Raja-Raja Melayu pada tahun 1983 dan 1993. Malahan mereka menghina Islam dengan memperbanyakkan lesen perjudian serta menggadai Gunung dan Bukit kepada tauke-tauke judi terbabit. Hatta pentadbiran UMNO sanggup menggadai kepentingan petani dan peraih kecil Melayu dengan menjual saham Bernas kepada syarikat asing.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
KETUA PEMBANGKANG
DEWAN RAKYAT MALAYSIA
MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 August 2009
UMNO leadership is vigorously spreading propaganda that manipulates symbols of race, religion and royalty with the intention of perpetuating narrow-minded views on communal relations.
This is not the first time that I have become been branded a Malay traitor. There have been many similar attempts in the past and this latest effort is a clear indication of UMNO’s increasing level of desperation.
I have no intention of being drawn into a personal dispute with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiuddin Yassin. I only intend to respond to this issue based on facts and principles. It is important for me to stress that my views and Pakatan Rakyat’s position is very clear despite not being covered in the UMNO controlled mainstream media.
The statement by the Pakatan Rakyat leadership signed by Tuan Guru Haji Hadi Awang, YB Lim Kit Siang and myself on 8th September 2008 clearly states Pakatan Rakyat’s commitment to upholding the principles enshrined in the Federal Constitution. These include the status of Islam as the Federal Religion, Bahasa Melayu as the National Language, while allowing for the use of other languages, the sovereignty of the institution of the Malay Rulers, the special rights for Malays and Bumiputeras and the rights of all other races as guaranteed by the Constitution.
We strongly believe we have clear and principled arguments to refute the politics of race and hatred of UMNO leaders who abuse symbols of race, religion and royalty simply to retain power and to conceal their own crimes, corruption and abuses of power.
Betrayal of people’s trust by UMNO leadership continues with the squandering of billions of Ringgit of public funds to pay huge commissions related to military procurements, and appropriation of shares, contracts and licenses that have been allocated for Bumiputeras but have instead been diverted to the families and cronies of the UMNO leadership.
We must not forget that it was UMNO leadership that affronted the institution of the Malay Rulers in 1983 and 1993. And they were also the ones who scorned Islam by issuing additional gambling licenses and selling the nation’s mountains, hills and islands to the same gambling tycoons. The UMNO administration is willing to pawn off the interests of the farmers and Malay small traders by selling BERNAS shares to foreign companies.
COME ON PAKATAN…… UNITE!!!!
DeepSeaDiver - August 11, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Anwar Ibrahim’s media conference at PKR Headquarters this afternoon was, as usual, well attended. His position on Malay rights (Article 153) and Malay Rulers, status of Islam and Bahasa Malaysia was clear since September 8, 2008. He stood together with PAS and DAP leaders on these fundamental issues.
It is to be regretted that UMNO has chosen to play the race card to win the hearts and minds of Malays. It is appropriate for him, therefore,to remind Malays of his principled stand on these matters at a time when UMNO has launched a campaign to brand him a traitor to his people. As a Malaysian leader, he must ensure that there is justice for all Malaysians. In my view, Anwar is a saviour of his people from the clutches of ultra-Malay nationalism and UMNO racist politics.–Din Merican
dinobeano - August 11, 2009 at 6:45 pm
The word ” traitor ” has suddenly gained currency . Malaysia is an independent country and has been independent as malaysia since 1963, but yet for some reason , traitor to the ” MALAY CAUSE ” or ” BANGSA MELAYU ” seems to have come into vogue over the last few weeks. And it is the ” MALAY CAUSE ” and not the ” MALAYSIAN CAUSE ” that is causing this controversy.
In malaysia one would think the ” MALAYSIAN CAUSE ” would be more important then the ” MALAY CAUSE ” and if there are traitors , then it should be those who are opposed to the ” MALAYSIAN CAUSE ” and not those opposed to the ” MALAY CAUSE “. However , this is the irony in malaysia after 22 years of mahathirism – UMNO , because of its greed for power and wealth ,is not ready to allow the MALAYS TO BECOME MALAYSIANS AND THOSE MALAYS WHO DO MAKE THIS TRANSITION AND BECOME MALAYSIANS ARE BRANDED AS TRAITORS . This is nothing short of amazing .
jeffery gascon - August 11, 2009 at 8:03 pm
“His (Anwar’s) position on Malay rights (Article 153) and Malay Rulers, status of Islam and Bahasa Malaysia was clear since September 8, 2008. He stood together with PAS and DAP leaders on these fundamental issues.” Din Merican
I’m not sure if one could say the same about his supporters in the DAP and PAS.
Special Malay privileges, Islam and Bahasa Malaysia are coded language for what some refer to as “Ketuanan Melayu” – or at least elements of it.
Are the Malays ready to declare:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
Mr Bean - August 11, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Pernyataan saudara bahawa “UMNO lah yang menghina instutusi Raja-Raja Melayu pada tahun 1983 dan 1993″, adalah dengan ini dirujuk.
Sdra Anwar,
sekiranya mengusik kekebalan raja-raja seperti di atas dianggap menghina institusi raja-raja saya amat tidak bersetuju. Apa yang kerajaan di bawah Tun Mahathir lakukan ketika itu sememangnya wajar. Ini adalah kerana ada individu dari kalangan itu sering bertindak keterlaluan mengasari rakyat sesuka hati tanpa ada sesiapa yang berani meghalangnya. Pada masa itu sdra pun berada di dalam kerajaan dan turut menyokong. Rakyat tidak mendapat penghormatan yang sepatutnya. Tanyalah rakyat negeri baginda. Kebanyakannya tahu termasuk diri saya. Kemuncaknya adalah apabila seorang jurulatih hoki telah dibelasah dan ini mendapat perhatian diperingkat nasional dan mengharapkan agar sesuatu dilakukan.
Insiden ini sebenarnya menjadi kemuncak kepada perbuat bermaharajalela ini. Tun Mahathir telah bertindak berani dan betul dan di sokong oleh kerajaan termasuk sdra pada masa itu untuk menghadkan kekebalan yang ada pada mereka.
Namun alhamdullilah tindakan Tun Mahathir yang tidak dipersetujui oleh ramai kaum Melayu kerana takut “Melayu hilang taring” ketika itu telah berjaya mengubah tingkahlaku individu berkenaan. Baginda kini amat disayangi oleh rakyat dan dihormati kerana “baik” dan mesra rakyat.
Saya tidak setuju sekiranya insiden ini ditakrifkan sebagai menghina atau menderhaka terhadap institusi raja-raja. Kami kini LEBIH SAYANGKAN baginda dan raja-raja lain kerana beliau telah berubah.
Saya harap komen saya ini di siarkan bagi membuktikan yang pihak sdra benar-benar telus.
Terikasih.
Mohd.
mohd - August 12, 2009 at 10:51 pm