Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has dismissed calls by DAP for the removal of discounts for the purchase of luxury houses and commercial buildings by the bumiputera.

Khairy argued that the discounts were still necessary because the percentage of bumiputera ownership of buildings was still low, at 15.7 percent according to 2007 figures.

"For commercial properties, bumiputera ownership is around 29.2 percent for business complexes and a low 3.5 percent for industrial premises.

NONE "These statistics reflect a very obvious imbalance," Khairy ( left ) said in a statement posted on his blog.

He was responding to calls by DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua for the removal of the five percent discount for residential properties above RM500,000 and commercial properties above RM2 million.

However, Pua said, the seven percent discount for properties below the two amounts should be maintained.

Pua's comments earned the wrath of Utusan Malaysia and several Umno politicians, including Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Taking his argument further, Khairy said that bumiputera property ownership in urban areas was very low and if Pua's suggestion was implemented, bumiputera-owned buildings would be limited to the city fringes.

On Pua's argument that bumiputera properties were being abused by brokers and middlemen, Khairy said the reason was unacceptable as the system could be improved. The DAP politician should have instead made suggestions to address this.

"I am also very disappointed by Pua's statement because he did not make any suggestions on how to address the imbalances in property ownership.

"This clearly shows that DAP is insincere and has no intention of helping the Malay agenda, although it touts itself as a party for all Malaysians."

Zulkifli Noordin: Ban DAP

Khairy appears to have found an ally in independent parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin, who yesterday called for a ban on DAP over the same issue.

According to to the former PKR man, Pua’s statement has acted as damning truth of the opposition’s “chauvinism and racism” and shows DAP members up as “anti-Malay and anti-constitution”.

NONE He added that DAP has a history of racism, having allegedly uttered statements like “this nation does not belong to Malays” after their victory in Selangor the 1969 general election.

“They did not receive Malay support in 1969, but today not only ‘haprak’ (useless) Malays, but bearded men also support them. Now Malays even have the heart to offer the deputy premierhip to these chauvinists,” he said on his blog.

Often on the first to defend Islam, Zulkifli also hit out on PAS for “lying to themselves” but justifying their partnership with DAP in the name of ‘dakwah’ (spreading Islam).

“The latest statement by DAP’s ‘spiritual leader’ Karpal Singh rejecting an Islamic state proves that the party is set in its ways.

“This should be a warning call for Malay Muslims that they are playing with fire and are allowing themselves to be taken for a ride,” he said.

Zulkifli who was sacked by PKR in March if DAP’s “extremism” is not contained, the party will become “a cancer which will threaten the stability and racial and religious harmony” in the country.