PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin said he was “not apologetic” over his policy speech where he challenged Umno to amend the laws to ensure that the prime minister’s post can only be held by a Malay.

“We do not support communal politics. We defend all... and that is why we are open to discuss the Malay agenda.

NONE “We are not disgusted by it and that is why I am not apologetic,” he said during his winding up speech at the youth wing’s congress at the Pulai Spring Resort, Johor.

This morning, Shamsul had issued the challenge to Umno, urging the latter to prove that they are the Malay champions that they claim to be.

He also said that by doing so, Malays can be secure of their political future, and their anxieties cannot be manipulated by irresponsible quarters who claim to be defending them.

Following this, Shamsul proposed that the national congress tomorrow discuss how to ensure that PKR wins over Malay votes in the next general election.

The motion was passed by voice voting by the delegation without a debate.

Veep defends Shamsul

The youth chief also found support from his exco line up, with vice chief Chan Ming Kai coming forward to explain that the challenge was merely to strip Umno of its claim of being Malay champions.

“If I asked you if PKR wins the most seats in Perak and I am nominated as MB will you support me? If you disagree because I am Chinese then please get out of the hall.

“This issue does not arise in Pakatan Rakyat. That is why the youth chief challenged Umno. We are the ones wearing clean shirts, so we can challenge Umno who are wearing dirty clothes.

“They make lots of noise saying that the Chinese are out to take over, playing dirty tricks like this, so why can't they make a constitutional amendment (to ensure this never happens)?” he asked.

Proving that Shamsul Iskandar's speech does not mean that PKR is pandering to communal politics, Chan who is Simpang Pulai assemblyperson said in Malay-majority Johor, PKR has a Chinese state chief in Dr Chua Jiu Meng.

Quelling Malay anxiety

Also backing the youth chief was his deputy Khairul Anwar Ahmad Zainuddin who said that the former had pose to challenge to break the taboo of Malay anxiety.

“Malays have been taken by BN-Umno propaganda, so much so that they say: ‘Nevermind that Umno is corrupt, steal sand and timber etc, as long as the leaders are Malay’.

“It is because this sort of fear exists that (Shamsul) challenged that a constitutional amendment be made. That is his suggestion... we can agree to disagree,” he said, adding that to him, the colour of a leader's skin is secondary.

The PKR Youth congress was attended by more than 400 delegates from 89 divisions nationwide. It will be followed by the national congress tomorrow, which will end on Sunday.