We embrace ‘inclusive politics’, says Khairy

We embrace ‘inclusive politics’, says Khairy

UPDATED @ 10:45:05 PM 12-06-2010
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
June 12, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — Barisan Nasional Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin said today that the ruling coalition could no longer depend on racial politics.

He said that Barisan Nasional Youth understood the importance of inclusive politics.

“This rally is to show that we not only support inclusive politics but also that we no longer identify ourselves with Umno, MCA, MIC other component parties but with Barisan Nasional.

“There is no place for racial and narrow politics,” he said at a 1 Malaysia Rally here today.

BN Youth brought in the stars today as young people from across the country almost filled up the 15,OOO capacity Putra Indoor Stadium.

Earlier local artists Sasi The Don, Yise Loo, and Aizat Amdan entertained the crowd while popular TV personality, Sarimah Ibrahim, hosted the rally.

Khairy added that the recent Hulu Selangor by-election showed that young voters are returning to BN.

“Our win in Hulu Selangor has shown that young voters have returned to Barisan Nasional. We are all ready to face change to ensure that 1Malaysia becomes a reality and we pray to God that we will experience a huge win in the next general election,” he said.

In press conference held later, Khairy said that BN must change its approach and become more inclusive.

“In the past, BN youth we moved very much on our own and in those days we defined courage very differently. For Umno, you have to be an ultra-Malay champion and courage for MIC is defined as champion for Indian issues. It gradually become very extreme and community centric.

“For us, courage is different. Courage is about fighting for everybody. We have to face criticisms from within and extreme groups. They don’t understand because you have to fight for all Malaysians,” he said.

He added the importance of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s message of 1 Malaysia to not be lost in translation.

“I think the time has come and we are willing to stick our necks out. I have spoken to all the component’s youth chief and said that if we are not there are the forefront then who is going to help the prime minister,” he said.

He also admitted Najib’s 1 Malaysia’s main obstacle is the racist elements within and outside the party.

“We must sure that the center is bigger than the fringe and the fringe are the extremist at the side. It is not going to be easy but we want to tell everybody that the sum is greater than its parts and that together we are stronger,” he said.

He also stressed the government to make its stand on the sports betting controversy.

“That is why we are waiting and I hope the government could provide an explanation as soon as possible because of conflicting reports from the government and the concerned company,” he said.

The Finance Ministry has recently denied in parliament that it has awarded a sports betting license to tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd.

However, Berjaya Corporation confirmed that the Finance Minister has awarded the license to Ascot in its announcement to Bursa Malaysia in its acquisition of the betting group.


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Walk the talk, Encik Khairy — The Malaysian Insider
June 12, 2010

JUNE 12 — It could be World Cup fever but Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin today declared at a 1 Malaysia youth rally that there is no place for “racial and narrow politics”.

It is of course commendable that Khairy, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth chief by virtue of his Umno post, feels that way.

The reality is otherwise.

BN Youth like its parent organisation is made up of many parties, especially the race-based ones from the Malay peninsula.

At least some like Gerakan, PPP and those from Sabah and Sarawak actually eschew race in the make-up of their membership.

But these non-racial parties are weak.

The thing is, Encik Khairy, organising a rally, giving a few soundbites doesn’t mean everything is okay. It isn’t.

Ask K. Vasanthakumar who was briefly held by police earlier today when he wanted to pass a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak about getting more government scholarships for high-achieving Indian students.

The ex-Hindraf leader and one-time ISA detainee felt he had no choice but approach the PM about the plight of Indian students.

And that is the reality of racial quotas in Malaysia.

See, Encik Khairy, the more skeptical among Malaysians will see your statement today as nothing more than that of an Umno youth chief trying to jump on the 1 Malaysia bandwagon and score some points with Najib.

And even the more charitable will be unwilling to accept that political parties which owe their existence to race politics have suddenly decided to be inclusive as you had said today.

“This rally is to show that we not only support inclusive politics but also that we no longer identify ourselves with Umno, MCA, MIC other component parties but with Barisan Nasional.

“There is no place for racial and narrow politics,” you said at the 1 Malaysia Rally.

Again, we applaud you for what you say. It is something the other parties have said over the years but BN has rejected saying its system is the best.

But it’s just rhetoric until Malaysians see that the reality of what you say is displayed by the BN through its socio-economic policies.

Encik Khairy, you have to walk the talk first.

Otherwise, we’ll just put it down to the idle chatter most people engage in between the FIFA World Cup 2010 games in South Africa.