Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin has warned MCA Youth not to question Malay rights, and the former's boss Hishammuddin Hussein said this reflected the sentiments of the grassroots.

Khairy had issued the warning in an interview with Utusan Malaysia on Monday, two days after the MCA Youth raised the issue during its annual meet.

The Umno leader said such actions will jeopardise the cooperation between the parties in Barisan Nasional (BN).

Coming to his defence, Hishammuddin said his deputy's statement was valid.

According to a report in Sin Chew Daily today, he said if Khairy had not reacted then Umno Youth members might have done something that could 'jeopardise' BN.

However, he did not elaborate on this.

"This is not Khairy's personal problem, he was reflecting the views and sensitivities of the grassroots," he said.

During the MCA Youth meet, delegates criticised Hishammuddin, who is also education minister, and Higher Learning Minister Dr Shafie Salleh, for their remarks regarding bumiputera quota for universities during the recent Umno general assembly.

'Extreme' attacks

In his statement, Khairy had reminded MCA Youth that the provisions of special privileges for Malays under the New Economic Policy (NEP) was formulated with the agreement of all BN parties.

"Umno Youth and the Malays have not brought something new but they are fighting for the original purpose of the NEP, asking for only 30 percent equity. It's not that we want 100 percent," he said.

He also described the attacks against Hishammuddin as "baseless, extreme and carried out with the intention of creating tension".

Responding, MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat, according to a Sin Chew Daily report yesterday, said mature politicians who understand the functions of democracy should know how to respect the freedom of expression.

He said delegates have the right to voice their views and as long as they do not breach party regulations, they should not be questioned or interfered with.

He added that it was based on this understanding that MCA Youth did not interfere although it did not agree with some of the views raised by members of other coalition parties during their meets.