No rally if Suqiu backs down
Susan LoonePublished: Dec 19, 2000 1:55 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The Federation of Peninsular Malay Students will not hold its proposed gathering of 100,000 members at Bukit Jalil stadium if Suqiu is willing to retract its appeals that are sensitive to other communities, the student body said today.
GPMS president Shuhaimi Ibrahim said, "It's all in Suqiu's hands. There is no need for a demonstration if they concede to withdraw their appeals."
"Even if they withdraw two percent of their appeals, the ones which question Malay special rights and call for the abolishment of bumiputra and non-bumiputra distinction, we are willing to re-negotiate the matter," he added.
Shuhaimi told malaysiakini today that GPMS is willing to meet with Suqiu if "it is for the good of all parties", as recommended by MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik. ([#1]Suqiu should withdraw 'sensitive' parts, says Ling[/#], Dec 19)
Last week, the student leader had issued a one-month deadline for Suqiu to withdraw its appeals or GPMS would hold the 100,000 people's gathering and go on a nationwide tour to promote its own 100-point demand.
Suqiu (the Malaysian Chinese Organisations Election Appeals Committee) and its controversial [#2]17-point appeal[/#] has come under fire lately by several parties, including Umno Youth, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and GPMS.
GPMS, in retaliation to Suqiu's appeals which the former claimed has questioned Malay special rights, has apparently countered with a 100-point demand which is currently under embargo and is only for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's eyes. ([#3]Embargo on GPMS' 100-point demand[/#], Dec 18)
Time to be involved
Asked about GPMS' stand on political involvement of students and its call to students recently not to be involved in demonstrations as they contravene the Universities and University Colleges Act, Shuhaimi said that the time has come for them to be involved.
"Yes, there is a time for discussion and we will talk it out. But when matters get out of hand, we have to react as this will show how strong we are.
"We have waited long before we decided to go ahead with this plan," he said.
A Bernama report quoted GPMS secretary-general Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad last month as saying, "It is GPMS' policy that demonstration is not the way to solve any problems; instead, it will expose them (students) to negative elements."
Syed Anuar was referring to the 10,000 people who took part in an impromptu gathering on the Kesas highway, which was supposed to be held at a private property on Jalan Kebun in Klang, organised by Keadilan on Nov 5.
He was also quoted as asking students to distance themselves from political campaigns at the recent Lunas by-election.
Very good response
Shuhaimi said GPMS, which has been monitoring Suqiu since last August, found the latter unwilling to back off even after several warnings, especially from the prime minister.
He said GPMS felt that it should retaliate in order to show the community that the movement is strong and effective. He added that GPMS will announce tomorrow its venue for the proposed demonstration.
He said that to date, response has been very good with applications from 51 groups and more than 200 phone calls of people wanting to join the gathering at Bukit Jalil.
He added that the rally is expected to be massive as the organisations that responded have very large memberships. For example, he pointed out that Kumpulan Belia 4B, a Malay youth group, has about 300,000 members and Pesaka, a national federation of martial arts groups, has about three million members.
Meanwhile, Bernama today reported that Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein is prepared to meet and hold a dialogue with Suqiu in order to put a quick end to the controversy arising from its 17-point appeal.
Hishammuddin was reported to have said that Umno Youth did not wish to see the controversy being prolonged and causing public anxiety detrimental to multiracial goodwill.
Suqiu, in an immediate response, welcomed Hishammuddin's suggestion.
"We are always prepared to discuss and engage in dialogue as we believe this is how different sectors and parties in a modern society should act as well as the right way to reach consensus," the lobby group said in a brief media release today.
GPMS president Shuhaimi Ibrahim said, "It's all in Suqiu's hands. There is no need for a demonstration if they concede to withdraw their appeals."
"Even if they withdraw two percent of their appeals, the ones which question Malay special rights and call for the abolishment of bumiputra and non-bumiputra distinction, we are willing to re-negotiate the matter," he added.
Shuhaimi told malaysiakini today that GPMS is willing to meet with Suqiu if "it is for the good of all parties", as recommended by MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik. ([#1]Suqiu should withdraw 'sensitive' parts, says Ling[/#], Dec 19)
Last week, the student leader had issued a one-month deadline for Suqiu to withdraw its appeals or GPMS would hold the 100,000 people's gathering and go on a nationwide tour to promote its own 100-point demand.
Suqiu (the Malaysian Chinese Organisations Election Appeals Committee) and its controversial [#2]17-point appeal[/#] has come under fire lately by several parties, including Umno Youth, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and GPMS.
GPMS, in retaliation to Suqiu's appeals which the former claimed has questioned Malay special rights, has apparently countered with a 100-point demand which is currently under embargo and is only for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's eyes. ([#3]Embargo on GPMS' 100-point demand[/#], Dec 18)
Time to be involved
Asked about GPMS' stand on political involvement of students and its call to students recently not to be involved in demonstrations as they contravene the Universities and University Colleges Act, Shuhaimi said that the time has come for them to be involved.
"Yes, there is a time for discussion and we will talk it out. But when matters get out of hand, we have to react as this will show how strong we are.
"We have waited long before we decided to go ahead with this plan," he said.
A Bernama report quoted GPMS secretary-general Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad last month as saying, "It is GPMS' policy that demonstration is not the way to solve any problems; instead, it will expose them (students) to negative elements."
Syed Anuar was referring to the 10,000 people who took part in an impromptu gathering on the Kesas highway, which was supposed to be held at a private property on Jalan Kebun in Klang, organised by Keadilan on Nov 5.
He was also quoted as asking students to distance themselves from political campaigns at the recent Lunas by-election.
Very good response
Shuhaimi said GPMS, which has been monitoring Suqiu since last August, found the latter unwilling to back off even after several warnings, especially from the prime minister.
He said GPMS felt that it should retaliate in order to show the community that the movement is strong and effective. He added that GPMS will announce tomorrow its venue for the proposed demonstration.
He said that to date, response has been very good with applications from 51 groups and more than 200 phone calls of people wanting to join the gathering at Bukit Jalil.
He added that the rally is expected to be massive as the organisations that responded have very large memberships. For example, he pointed out that Kumpulan Belia 4B, a Malay youth group, has about 300,000 members and Pesaka, a national federation of martial arts groups, has about three million members.
Meanwhile, Bernama today reported that Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein is prepared to meet and hold a dialogue with Suqiu in order to put a quick end to the controversy arising from its 17-point appeal.
Hishammuddin was reported to have said that Umno Youth did not wish to see the controversy being prolonged and causing public anxiety detrimental to multiracial goodwill.
Suqiu, in an immediate response, welcomed Hishammuddin's suggestion.
"We are always prepared to discuss and engage in dialogue as we believe this is how different sectors and parties in a modern society should act as well as the right way to reach consensus," the lobby group said in a brief media release today.
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