COMMENT With the exception of our first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, there have been no true statesmen among the rest of the prime ministers.

In a multi-racial and multi-religious country like Malaysia, there is a need for our  national leaders, especially prime ministers, to adopt a broader agenda in addressing and resolving the problems faced by the rakyat.

Unfortunately, statesmanship is rare among our leaders because of the predominance of the racial agenda.

Current Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is clearly the worst among the lot. Najib lacks the understanding, ability and visions to steer the country and its people out of the present imbroglio.

Even if Najib wants to adopt a more rational policy on issues, his “captivity” in Umno makes it impossible for him to escape or steer clear of the racial and extreme agenda of the party.

Given the opposition to him within Umno, Najib adopts the easy way out as other Umno leaders have done the past – jump on the bandwagon of popularity and seek legitimacy on the grounds of extreme racial and religious agenda.

Championing himself as 'hero' of Malays

It is with much regret that Najib, in his speech at the Malay Unity gathering at Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil, Selangor, which was attended by more than 5,000 people, including members of his cabinet and non-governmental organisations, sought to champion himself as the “hero” of the Malays.  

His statement that he would protect the Malays as long as “the moon and stars” shine is indicative of the extent he would go to embrace the Malay agenda of racial supremacy to the neglect of the other social and ethnic segments in the county.

A statement like this, which normally  would come from the  likes of Perkasa or Isma, came from the mouth of the prime minister of this country and head of 14-member Barisan Nasional coalition, the ruling outfit of the country.

If Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali ( right ) had said this, Malaysians would not have been surprised. But it came from none other than the prime minister himself, who is supposed to protect the rights of all races and groups!

Najib’s bigoted, racist and self-servicing speech at the Malay Unity gathering betrayed his real motives and why he would pander to the interests of narrow-minded and racist groups in the country.

His popularity as prime minister seems to decline, day by day. He cannot deal effectively with opposition within the party. He has failed in so many issues that we cannot even keep track of these issues. Even the former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has indirectly called for Najib's resignation!

A liability for Umno and the nation

In other words, Najib seems to be a liability, not only for the country as a whole, but for Umno itself. Thus, under the circumstances of political duress, Najib has nowhere to turn but to Malay groups, whose agenda is nothing but racism and extremism.

He cannot fall back on his wisdom or policies; he cannot fall back on his track record or achievements but on the myopic racial agenda!

My question is simple: why, after 45 years of the New Economic Policy (NEP) and related policies, measures and actions showing that Umno has failed to uplift the Malays?

Why are the Malays still unable to compete with the Chinese and foreign investors and why do they have to depend on government quotas and hand-outs in the economic and business realms?

Why has the government not conducted a comprehensive study of Malay participation in business, nor ascertained the reasons behind their failure?

Despite the talk of merit and performance, why are the Malays simply promoted and given licences to operate businesses? Why do we continue to have a bloated civil service and why are non-Malays discouraged from joining it?

Najib and Umno must accept the stark reality that Malays are no more fools. They understand that Umno has robbed Malays in the name of defending the Malays.

Business and economic opportunities that are supposed to go to ordinary Malays have been channelled to those Malays who have the right connections and links to Umno leaders.

Why doesn't Najib ask his cabinet members to declare their assets to be audited by well-known, internationally-recognised auditors and then present them to the public? He does not have the guts to do this, does he?

Najib at the event talked about defending Islam. Is Islam is facing an imminent threat from unknown forces? Today, defending Islam in the country has taken on a racial agenda. If anybody has spoilt the name of the Islam it is none other than Umno and organisations closely linked to it.

Why are non-Malay minors still being clandestinely converted, without the knowledge of their parents? Why do the courts and the police protect those who have converted, without first annulling their civil marriages, causing irreparable damage and harm to children and their spouses? Is this Islam?

This is how Islam is being manipulated and given a bad name by those in the country. Why do you have to distribute one million copies of the translated versions of the Quran to non-Malays, a move that is opposed by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism  (MCCBCHST).

What is the real purpose of this move, and why is the government refusing to check on these kinds of mischievous acts?

My dear prime minister, let us face it: you are poor leader of this nation, which has much potential. You have squandered your term in office, I don't how you can redeem yourself in the light of scandals, corruption, murders and attacks and imprisonments of opposition leaders.

P RAMASAMY is deputy chief minister II of Penang.