PITA POLITIK (54): THE ISSUES OF MALAYS AND RAKYAT

The Malayan Union struggle in the early fifties saw solid Malay support against the then British colonial power

Monday July 14, 2008 MYT 5:29:54 PM
PM welcomes PAS' willingness to discuss Malay issues
By JANE RITIKOS


PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has welcomed PAS' statement that it is willing to hold discussions with Umno on Malay issues and Islam, describing it is "a good and important move".

Abdullah, who is Umno president, said that there were issues that the two parties which represent the Malays need not bicker about, especially those relating to the race and Islam.

"If we have more understanding on these issue than the Malays will also have less problems," he said in response to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang interview with Harakahdaily in which the latter said PAS was willing to sit down with Umno to discuss issues of mutual interests.

Abdullah, who was speaking to reporters after opening the National Summit on Urban Poor and Low Income groups Monday, said everyone would agree that more should be done for the good of the Malays by addressing issues affecting them.

However, he said the Malays too, had to take into consideration the interests of non-Malays.

He acknowledge that there was previous talk of a similar discussions between the two parties and hoped that it would come true this time. (The Star Online, 14 July 2008)

Comment:
An encouraging start for the willingness of two main political parties, being at loggerheads since Dato' Asri's leaderhip some decades ago. The two parties were once in coalition before and who knows, time will be on their sides whether their leaders would come out of their senses and will say "enough is enough. Let's return to the fold and give the rakyat what they deserve."

After all aren't these leaders' objective is to serve the people, irrespective of their ideologies or whatever. Unless, of course, if they have some other objectives in mind. How encouraging would it be when the leaders of two political parties shaking and holding hands, forgeting the past and looking forward to the future. The Rakyat should be seeing leaders like Hishamuddin Tun Hussrin and Sallahuddin Ayob, or Hadi Awang and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, or Najib and Nik Aziz sitting together, discussing the Rakyat's issues. Let's earnestly hope so! And as a starter the Malay unity is to be their common issue to work on.