Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman's rejection of the Bangsa Malaysia concept was met with strong criticism today, with Gerakan Youth leading the way in saying the Umno politician was unfit to be in the government.

"If Abdul Ghani cannot see how a united Bangsa Malaysia can work together, then we question the reason why he is still in the BN government representing a multi-ethnic society," said the wing's deputy chief Lim Si Pin ( left ) in a strongly-worded statement.

The Bangsa Malaysia concept is not a threat to the Malays and neither does it interfere with the special privileges accorded the them, he added.

Lim said that only by working together can all races in the country prosper.

"If any particular single race work only in isolation, then it may run the danger of being surpassed by other races in the competitive world," he said.

Yesterday in his policy speech at the Johor Umno convention Abdul Ghani had questioned the wisdom of promoting the Bangsa Malaysia concept.

He said that the Bangsa Malaysia concept would only jeopardise the stability of the country.

Abdul Ghani drew controversy by saying that the Bangsa Malaysia concept was still vague in its meaning.

"After 49 years of independence, we should be mature enough not to try and introduce vague and unclear concepts," he said.

"The term Bangsa Malaysia continues to be lauded by our friends under the name of unity and understanding without proper thought for its definition."

He further added that even if the term Bangsa Malaysia had to be used, it should be limited to the definition of the people of Malaysia with the Malays as the main race.

Abdul Ghani argued that the Bangsa Malaysia concept was unacceptable because the Constitution clearly defined the races in Malaysia distinctly as Malay and others.

He added that there was no justification for a united and single Bangsa Malaysia or what he called a 'rojak' (mishmash) race.

Against government policy

To this, Lim, said that it was regrettable that Abdul Ghani was putting down a fundamental principle espoused by the Barisan Nasional. Gerakan is one of the major partners of the ruling coalition.

Gerakan is among various groups which believe that a Bangsa Malaysia would go a long way in strengthening national unity. The party at its national delegates conference on Sept 4 adopted a resolution urging Malaysians to promote the creation of a progressive Bangsa Malaysia under Vision 2020.

Responding to Abdul Ghani's remarks, Gerakan president and Lim's father Keng Yaik was reported as saying in the New Straits Times today that Abdul Ghani's stance was going against government policy.

"The Bangsa Malaysia is a policy of the government. We (Gerakan) support this policy of the government," he said.

Meanwhile Bernama today quoted Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as saying that the Bangsa Malaysia concept was a general concept that does not require detailed definition.

"It does not need to be defined in detail," he said, adding that there was no need to amend the constitution for the purpose.

"I like to stress that it is more towards a state of the mind, meaning that we lose the prejudice, incompatibility among the races, and unwillingness to mix with other races.

"If we treat it as a state of the mind, I think we can avoid the polemics. And if we try to define it, it will raise a lot of questions and debates on the matter," he said.

Ridiculous remark

Opposition party DAP also criticised Abdul Ghani over his statement.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said it looked as though Abdul Ghani was falling back on racial politics to maintain the political control in government.

"It is ridiculous for Abdul Ghani to suggest that even if Bangsa Malaysia is used, the Malays shall be the pivotal race."

"By emphasizing on Ketuanan Melayu , Umno (Johor) clearly continues to discriminates Malaysians and classifies them as first-class and second-class citizens," he said in a statement.