Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has described sociology professor Zainal Kling as having “slept for too long” for claiming the Malay states were never colonised.

NONE “A journalist asked for my view just now about the views of a number of professors who have claimed that the Malay states were never colonised.

“I answered that this person had long been sleeping in a cave, has just woken up, and in a state of  semi-consciousness, is now babbling incoherently, perhaps as a result of being in the womb of the colonialists for so long,” he told reporters in Kota Baru today.

Although he did not mention Zainal by name, the reference was clearly in reference to the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris lecturer who had made the remarks at a press conference in Putrajaya last Friday.

The professor had said the historical facts were that except for the three Straits Settlement states of Penang, Malacca and Singapore, Tanah Melayu “was never colonised,” but was only under the “protection” of the then British Empire.

Speaking at the press conference in Putrajaya, Zainal said that ever since the Pangkor Agreement, which was signed in 1874, there was nothing recorded in the accord that said the states were to be colonised.

Writing on his Facebook page, Nik Aziz said he would like to hear the views of Umno leaders on the academician’s statement, which has invited caustic criticism, especially from the opposition political parties.

“Or (are they) choosing to stay silent?” asked the PAS spiritual leader.

Brickbats for Zainal

Umno has for long claimed to be the lead party in the fight for Malayan independence and touted many of its senior leaders as the fathers of independence.

      

zainal kling Meanwhile, Zainal’s ( left ) “no colonisation” statement continued to garner brickbats from various quarters.

Negri Sembilan PKR Youth said the brouhaha and polemics over the ‘communist’ issue linked to PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu’s speech were wrong, inaccurate and of no help to good governance and race relations.

“The mainstream media and NGOs involved (in the matter) should instead focus on more important rakyat-centric issues... the NGOs in reality can do more good as ‘price vigilantes’ on the rising essential goods prices,” its chief Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus said in a statement.

       

On a similar note, the Malaysian Association of Muslim Students (PKPIM) reminded those involved in the matter to refer to historical experts and facts and not make statements out of turn, as this could lead to difficult situations.

“We demand that the Malaysian Professors’ Council retracts its confusing statement and comes out with a detailed academic and intellectual paper about its thesis on the matter,” said a statement issued by PKPIM president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin.

In condemning the “irresponsible” actions of Umno and BN, Selangor PAS Youth said the ruling coalition was continuing with its “lies and twisting of historical facts” to maintain its grip on power.

“If it is true, according to historians, that Malaya was never colonised, then Umno and BN at the time must have been the balaci (minions) under the thumb of the British and eager to curry their favour,” said the statement from the movement’s deputy chief, Mohd Sany Hamzan.