Global Movement for Moderates CEO Saifuddin Abdullah today requested the Malays not to be so sensitive to think that their dignity will be challenged every time 'someone makes noise'.

He said there was no concerted effort by anyone to challenge the dignity of the Malays although there were isolated episodes upsetting the community.

“Don’t stammer (melatah) every time someone says something or makes noises for it would be very difficult to live if we do this,” Saifuddin told reporters in Penang when asked about Wednesday's 'Gerakan Himpunan Rakyat' rally.

He said he was not worried about losing his ‘Malay dignity’ as he is a Malay as his rights are guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

‘Malay dignity’ is supposed to be the theme of the red shirts pro-Umno rally on Wednesday, Malaysia Day, in Kuala Lumpur to counter the Bersih 4 on Aug 29 and 30.

“I have the Malay sultans to take care of me, I have many non-Malay friends who, to the best of my memory, never challenged anything that can be construed as maruah (dignity),” he said.

“You cannot stop one or two persons from doing something out of the way. You must be strong enough to know where you stand or else it would be difficult to survive in this world,” said Saifuddin, who is a former Umno deputy minister.

Hopes rally is peaceful one

“For example, it would be very difficult to be a father if every time your son challenges you, you feel threatened,” he added.

On the Sept 16 rally by the red-shirts, who are supporters of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Saifuddin said that as an advocate of freedom of expression, the group had the right to gather in Kuala Lumpur.

However, he expressed his concern that the objectives of the rally were not very clear with it having several spokespersons with differing views on the matter.

“I am more concerned about the posters which went viral recently, the kind we do not want to see.

I hope that the people organising it will go out all the way to make the rally a peaceful one,” said the former Termeloh MP.