Penang Umno slammed as 'immoral, indisciplined'

A Penang DAP leader has ticked off the Malays for wasting precious time indulging in the politics of Umno leaders to the extent of neglecting the community's own socio-economic situation.

According to state DAP central committee member, Zulkifli Mohd Noor, the Umno of today is so "immoral and indisciplined" that it prefers politicking to defending the rights of the Malays and Muslims.

He felt that the party was bent on condemning every state government effort to uplift the conditions of the Penang Malays.

"Umno is afraid of its own shadows. I suggest the party better focus on its own goals, not wait until the Malays themselves reject the party," he told a press conference in Penang.

"It is time for the Malays to rise up and shed the perception that it is a nation of subsidy which continues to demand for handouts," added the Penang Municipal Councillor.

"And quality, not liability candidates need to be chosen this coming election. Malays need to improve their level of thinking so that other communities can respect them," Zulkifli stressed.

Malay NGO, not DAP's agent

He was responding to continued Umno criticisms that the DAP led Pakatan Rakyat government has neglected and marginalised the Malays.

He was also sore with state Umno Youth chief Shaikh Hussein Mydin who accused the DAP of influencing Malay NGOs like the Penang Malay Congress (PMC), which often raises community related issues.

Shaikh Hussein (at centre in photo) has described the PMC as DAP's "agent" and "stooge", but the NGO has vehemently denied the label, insisting it non-partisan.

The Bagan division Umno Youth chief has also rapped the NGO for speaking on its behalf, saying that the PMC merely had "10 members", while Umno represents the largest community in the country.

Penang Umno was upset with the NGO for suggesting that it take over the state leadership in the BN instead of the Gerakan, and for suggesting that the DAP field 15 Malay candidates against the former in the coming polls.

But Zulkifli praised the NGO for preferring to raises their issues through dialogue instead of on the streets, like those organised by well-known state critic Mohamed Ghani Abdul Jiman.

‘DAP is not cruel'

At the press conference accompanied by PMC president Rahmad Isahak, Zulkifli denied that the DAP was the "mastermind" behind the organisation's leadership.

Instead, he questioned why Umno was bent on causing mischief whenever the state government tried to help the Malays, including giving its support to the relevant NGOs.

"For example, when the state tries to help legalise illegal traders and road-side hawkers, it would always be blamed for oppressing the community," he said.

"The state has even been criticised for neglecting to help the mat rempits and trisha riders.

"These problems would be addressed by the state government in due course and there is no need to hold demonstrations to scare tourists away and to invite the hatred of other races," he added.

Zulkifli explained that DAP has a bigger agenda dedicated to the nation besides paying special attention to the socio-economic problems of Penang Malays.

He said the DAP led Pakatan government in Penang is not "cruel" that it is willing to marginalise the rakyat, especially the Malays.

"All new and reviewed policies, are for all communities, and not for a particular and small group only, as practised previously by the Barisan Nasional government, especially its municipal councils," he added.