Umno needs to reform, says former president
Published: Aug 7, 2013 5:53 AM | Updated: Aug 7, 2013 8:04 AM
Umno needs to reform, said its former president and former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Umno needs to reform, said its former president and former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
In the upcoming book ‘Awakening: The Abdullah Badawi Years in Malaysia', Abdullah says Umno is currently at crossroads and must immediately reform.
"Umno is at crossroads today. It needs reform, to be very frank.
"I notice there is a degree of awareness today to institute reforms. But the degree of willingness is yet to be seen," Abdullah added.
He also said that Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) is not an entitlement or a right, but it is rather something that must be earned.
"Just because you are a bumiputera, you cannot expect everybody to just hand everything over to you and call you a ‘tuan'," Abdullah said in the book which is to be launched soon.
"Ketuanan is not an entitlement or a right. It is something you have to work for and to earn."
Abdullah was also critical of the Malay rights group Perkasa.
"While I believe there is nothing wrong in championing the cause of your race and community, it is wrong to do it in an offensive manner and by demonising other races.
"...you achieve your Ketuanan (supremacy) by improving, not by taking from others," he added.
He, however, said that the Malay middle class have a "genuine concern" over the plight of bumiputeras in the country.
"However, these concerns could have been expressed through proper channels, and not in the offensive and belligerent manner that Perkasa does," he added.
In the upcoming book ‘Awakening: The Abdullah Badawi Years in Malaysia', Abdullah says Umno is currently at crossroads and must immediately reform."Umno is at crossroads today. It needs reform, to be very frank.
"I notice there is a degree of awareness today to institute reforms. But the degree of willingness is yet to be seen," Abdullah added.
He also said that Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) is not an entitlement or a right, but it is rather something that must be earned.
"Just because you are a bumiputera, you cannot expect everybody to just hand everything over to you and call you a ‘tuan'," Abdullah said in the book which is to be launched soon.
"Ketuanan is not an entitlement or a right. It is something you have to work for and to earn."
Abdullah was also critical of the Malay rights group Perkasa.
"While I believe there is nothing wrong in championing the cause of your race and community, it is wrong to do it in an offensive manner and by demonising other races.
"...you achieve your Ketuanan (supremacy) by improving, not by taking from others," he added.
He, however, said that the Malay middle class have a "genuine concern" over the plight of bumiputeras in the country.
"However, these concerns could have been expressed through proper channels, and not in the offensive and belligerent manner that Perkasa does," he added.
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