Annuar Musa: I was showing love for my race, not racism
Umno supreme council member Annuar Musa has denied that he is a racist and claims his remarks on the Sept 16 rally were taken out of context.
Annuar said he was merely expressing "love for his race" which is normal and accepted in Islam as long as those of other races are not oppressed.
"What I wrote on Facebook, not many people seem to understand what I've been trying to say. I'm a true Malaysian, true BN in spirit.
"If people want to say I'm a racist because I'm a staunch Malay. Yes, I admit I'm a racist if you wanna look at it that way.
“It is about interpretation and I was being sarcastic," he told reporters at the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
Annuar also refuted claims saying he misunderstood the Al-Quran by saying that Islam allows racism.
"In Islam there is the term 'assabiyah' which means rampant racism prior to Prophet Muhammad time, before Islam.
"However, when a companion asked if it is wrong to love your race, Prophet Muhammad said no.
"Meaning if you love your race, it isn't wrong but if you oppress other races, then it is 'assabiyah'," he said.
'Taylor's shouldn't have made an issue'
On a related matter, Annuar said Mara-sponsored students in Taylor's University will continue their studies as usual.
He said he has yet to meet Minister for Rural and Regional Development Ismail Sabri Yaakob (photo) over the matter.
He, nevertheless questioned Taylor's University for complaining about the use of a bus bearing their logo, to ferry participants to a legal rally.
"If any new instruction then we will discuss accordingly. All I know is based on the newspaper report, I was made to understand that the minister was unhappy (over the issue of) college buses used to ferry Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu but I did not get the true picture.
"Taylor's College (sic) shouldn't make an issue out of it ... if a bus ferries people to something that is legal, what's wrong with it?" he said.
The varsity terminated the contract of the bus operator, which used the bus bearing its logo to ferry participants to the rally without its permission.
Ismail Sabri said Mara will not fund students to enroll in Taylor's University, but current Mara-funded students there will not be affected.
He said there were "various reasons" for the decision but did not elaborate.
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