'Malays form the core of the country'
The people have to remember that Malays form the core of this country, which will cause the country to become unstable if shaken, believes political secretary to the prime minister Muhammad Zahid Md Arip.
Zahid was responding to the government's decision not to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd).
He said the country has its own ways to maintain unity among the races, which has proven successful thus far...
The people have to remember that Malays form the core of this country, which will cause the country to become unstable if shaken, believes political secretary to the prime minister Muhammad Zahid Md Arip.
Zahid was responding to the government's decision not to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd).
He said the country has its own ways to maintain unity among the races, which has proven successful thus far.
"No problem if our country doesn't ratify Icerd. We have our own mould which has proven successful. Our country is developed, the people live in harmony, so there's no problem.
"The Malays have accepted other races in this country. The country has more non-Malay than Malay millionaires," he told Malaysiakini, adding that he is not being racist but only stating facts.
Read more: Anti-Icerd 'celebration' only aids Zahid, Hadi's ambitions - PM's polsec
"Whatever it is, Malaysians have to remember that the core of this country are Malays.
"If this core is shaken, so will the country. The Malays' worry will lead to the instability of this country," he added.
Earlier, Zahid handed over schoolbags to schoolchildren in conjunction with a return to school programme at Setiawangsa, co-organised by Philip Morris Malaysia, Salam Malaysia, and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
'In the best interests of the country'
Muhammad Zahid, the grandson of former deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba, added that the decision not to ratify the Icerd is in the best interests of the country, not Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He also denied that Mahathir was caving in to pressure from other parties.
"As someone with vast political experience, Mahathir is steady when dealing with this kind of issue. He can tell the good from the bad.
"The pressure against him during the era of (former premier) Najib Abdul Razak was worse than this.
"He is confident in whatever he does," he insisted, adding that Mahathir's 'Lool East' policy taught Malays that "there is no need for a hardworking race to cheat other people."
