Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein today said the Chinese community should not fear or be suspicious of the 'Panca Warisan' keris (a traditional Malay dagger) which symbolised the wing's struggle.

According to him, the symbol's purpose is to inject a new spirit into the younger generation of Malays and has no other objectives.

"Umno Youth sees the keris as a symbol for the revival of the spirit among Malay youths and to fortify them through Umno.

"This does not mean that we will not strengthen the other races through Barisan Nasional," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

Hishamuddin told this to reporters after attending the Gerakan Youth and Wanita national delegates conference in Kuala Lumpur.

He was asked to comment on his move to brandish the keris at the Umno Youth annual meet recently, which ignited a blaze of protest.

At last week's MCA annual meet, its Youth wing delegates assailed Hishammuddin, who is also education minister, over the issue.

His keris antics also made headlines in Chinese-language newspapers.

Explain to the grassroots

Asked if he was worried that the issue will be raised and politicised again by certain quarters, Hishammuddin said MCA leaders must play an important role in explaining the situation to the grassroots.

He said the party leaders must show that it not an issue which should be feared or blown out of proportion.

"If the Chinese community is still perturbed and fearful of the keris, then I believe this community will be unable to compete in the present world which talks about atom, nuclear bombs and Scud missiles," he said.

Asked to comment on the same issue, MCA Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai said he considered the matter closed since Hishammuddin had explained it to him and several other party leaders.

Liow, who was also present at the Gerakan conference, said he will personally go down to the ground to clear the air over this.