“Pakatan Rakyat implements various policies to marginalise Penang Malays. I find it interesting because it seems that Umno leaders feel proud to expose their own stupidity,” said Balik Pulau PKR division deputy chief Mohd Taufik Sulong.

He was responding to Pulau Betong assemblyperson Mohamad Farid Saad’s revelations at the recent Umno general assembly that Malays own merely 1.1 percent of land in the Northeast of Penang; 15.07 percent in the Northwest/Balik Pulau, 44.2 percent in Seberang Prai Utara (North), 23.5 percent in Seberang Prai Timor (East) and only 18.09 percent in Seberang Prai Selatan (South).

According to Mohamad Farid, who is also political secretary to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Malays generally own only about 20.41 percent of land in Penang.

Mohd Taufik rubbished the statement, laying blame instead on Umno and Barisan Nasional which since Merdeka in 1957  have governed the country, including Penang.

Mohd Taufik said Pakatan Rakyat, which only took over the state leadership in March 2008, should not be faulted for this.

“Can the obvious lack of land ownership (in Penang) be the evil work of the Pakatan Rakyat government when it has ruled for only two years? The YB did not tell all,” he said.

“Whose fault is it that the Malays lack ownership of land? It is definitely the mistake of the Umno and BN government which led Penang for so long,” he added.

Mohd Taufik said as the federal government is controlled by Umno/BN, the party should ensure that relevant agencies like Perda, Uda and Mara increase the percentage of land ownership among the Malays in Penang.

“The answer is simple. When Umno and BN governed Penang, they were more concerned about their own stomachs and those of their cronies,” he charged.

‘History does not lie’

He urged the Malays not to be misled by Umno and BN’s propaganda without referring to history which does not lie.

“The truth is Umno and BN are the thieves of the rights of the Malays, and not their champions,” he said.

“History has proven that in these 53 years, Umno has not been a sincere party; it is the hands of its leaders who have resulted in the lack of landownership of the Malays,” he added.

Meanwhile, the DAP is upset over Umno’s statement that the Malays in Penang are in dire straits.

penang youth talk 140608 liew chin tong.jpg Bukit Bendera member of parliament Liew Chin Tong ( right ) said that the statement by Mohamad Farid was not only baseless, it smacked of ‘racism’ - a usual political tactic by many of the Umno leaders.

Liew said Umno has launched this propaganda as it is power-crazy and is hoping to seize the Chief Minister’s post.

“It is as if when Umno controls Penang and its representative becomes Chief Minister, all the problems of the Malays would be resolved,” he said.

“If this is true, why are the Malays in other states still living in poor conditions although they have long been under Umno administration?” he asked.

Liew said when Umno was the backbone of the Gerakan-led government in Penang before March 2008, there were not many development projects to help the Malays.

Umno attacks and condemns Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and other Pakatan leaders because it is ‘envious’ of the Pakatan government, he added.