Friday 29 Mar 2024
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(Sept 14): Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said, as a Malay, he has never felt that his “maruah” (dignity) was challenged, in reference to the “red shirt” rally scheduled to take place on Malaysia Day, September 16.

The Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) chief executive officer said he has never seen any concerted effort to challenge the dignity of Malays.

“I am a Malay. My family is pure Malay. I am not worried about the Malay dignity.

“Never at any point have I felt that way when the Federal Constitution guarantees the rights of Malays.

“I also have many non-Malay friends and they have never done anything that challenges my dignity as a Malay,” he told reporters in Penang today.

Saifuddin, a former Umno deputy minister, was commenting on the “red shirt” rally and its related slogans which used the phrase “maruah Melayu”.

“Soal maruah ni, jangan melatah (this question about dignity, there is no need to overreact. You know what is provided in the constitution and you have the institution of Malay rulers.

“You can’t stop one or two people from doing something (offensive). You must be strong enough to know where you stand.”

A Malay rights group is organising the “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” gathering now dubbed the “red shirt” rally in Kuala Lumpur.

The rally is reportedly to counter Bersih 4 last month, where the majority of participants were non-Malays.

The organiser also reported wanted to express anger over incidents during Bersih 4, where some participants stepped on the pictures of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Saifuddin said all Malaysians had the right to gather under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA). – The Malaysian Insider

 

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