DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) has slammed Umno Youth information chief Azimi Daim for stating that "the Malays are the masters of this land" and requested that he apologises and retracts his remark within three days.

Dapsy national secretary Loke Siew Fook said Azimi's statement published in the latest issue of youth magazine Siasah was "most insensitive, racist, feudalistic and downright outrageous".

"By saying that the Malays are the masters of this land, is he trying to say that the non-Malays are the servants and slaves in the country? This is the most racist statement I have ever heard by a Malaysian politician," Loke said in a statement yesterday.

Azimi's remarks were published in Siasah following an interview with the magazine o­n the recent police raid o­n o­nline daily malaysiakini. Among other things, he touched o­n the issue of press freedom, saying that it must be exercised ethically by taking into consideration social sensitivities in the country.


Which article, which clause?

The raid o­n Jan 20 was prompted by a police report lodged by Azimi against the daily for publishing an allegedly seditious letter which questioned Malay special rights. Fifteen CPUs and four servers were confiscated during the raid. The four servers are still in police custody.

"These sensitivities do not change with time, social condition and place...in Malaysia, everybody knows that Malays are the masters of this land. We rule this country as provided for in the Federal Constitution. Anyone who touches upon Malay affairs or criticises the Malays is (offending) our sensitivities," Azimi was quoted as saying.

Loke also challenged Azimi to point out which article and which clause in the Federal Constitution specifically mentioned that "the Malays rule this country".

"All Malaysians respect that Article 153 of the Federal Constitution provides special rights for the Malays in terms of quota for civil service, education opportunities, licenses and permits," he said.

"Azimi's insensitive statement has totally ignored Vision 2020 initiated by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the number o­ne challenge of Vision 2020 is to create a Bangsa Malaysia," Loke stressed.

One voice as Malaysians

He added that Dapsy fully supported the recent Malaysians for Peace rally organised by Umno Youth as "we must be prepared to put aside our political differences and emerge as Malaysians with o­ne voice" o­n certain common issues.

"After 45 years of nationhood, when all Malaysians should consider ourselves as Malaysians first rather than as Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans and to march together towards a united Malaysia, Azimi's statement is most backward and must be condemned by all Malaysians including his counterparts in Umno Youth!" he said.

Loke felt that Mahathir should immediately direct Azimi to retract his statement and make a public apology to all non-Malay Malaysians.

He added that Dapsy would consult their legal advisor and consider further action if Azimi fails to retract his statement by Tuesday - as it is a threat to national unity.

'Don't know they quoted'

However, contacted for comment this afternoon, Azimi said his remark is a "fair" statement.

"That's a fair statement. I didn't say we are the o­nly owner of this land. Historically, we were the o­nes who came to this land first, and now, we share with others. I don't know why they (Dapsy) felt so offended," he told malaysiakini.

Asked o­n Loke's challenge to him to point out which part of the Federal Constitution provides that "Malays rule this country", Azimi replied, "I thought that part (the controversial remark) was supposed to be off-the-record. We were discussing many other things during the interview and I don't know they (Siasah) quoted everything. I think (Siasah) should o­nly focus o­n malaysiakini and Umno Youth, that's it."

Azimi said he has not read the article in Siasah and refused to comment when asked whether he would apologise or retract his statement.