PAS Youth leader Mahfuz Omar today said that the 100-point demand by the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) including a point on Malay rights is an act of those who have been "made a prostitute" by Umno leaders who want to retain their powers.

"Even without the Suqiu demands, the rights of the Malays have already been exploited by Umno who claim to be defending the rights of the Malays," said Mahfuz.

Producing Hansard records (parliament proceedings) of August 1965, Mahfuz quoted Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was then MP of Kota Setar Selatan, as opposing a resolution to further guarantee the rights of the Malays in the constitution.

"I oppose this resolution as this is not a resolution that will build a strong Malaysia, but will give rise to racial tension that will destroy our beloved Malaysia," the Hansard quoted Mahathir as saying.

Mahathir, now Prime Minister, was also quoted in the Hansard as saying: "There will come a time when we will have to do away with the privileges of the Malays. I believe the special rights of the Malays as written down in the constitution is an insult to the Malays. This likens the Malays to the Red Indians in America where they need to be given reserve land be able to live in America."

Racial tension

Mahfuz said the different stand that Mahathir had taken from the one shown in the Hansard record shows that Mahathir and Umno have used the Malay rights issue for their own interests.

The Federation of Peninsular Muslim Undergraduates (Gamis) secretary-general, Muhammad Faisal Abdul Rahman, who is also the president of Universiti Malaya Muslim Undergraduates Association (PMIUPM), said that the action of GPMS coming out with the 100-point demand was like "pouring fuel over fire".

"This is no solution to the present tension caused by the demands of Suqiu and only worsens the situation," said Faisal.

Faisal said that the demands by GPMS can result in racial tension.

"The plan by GPMS to go around the country to raise support for the 100 points will cause much uneasiness and tension among the various races of this country.

"Gamis is of the opinion that all views and voices of the rakyat should be heard in a dialogue and appropriate action should be taken by the government.

"At present, the only discussion on the issue seems to be centred in the media and the voicing of personal opinions.

"We do not want to see another May 13. Racial harmony should be based on respect for each other," said Faisal.

Diverting attention

Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua termed the 100-point appeal by GPMS as "part of a drama orchestrated by Mahathir to intensify communal tension".

"GPMS is not serious in putting forward the 100 points and is only serious in creating racial tension. This is to threaten the Chinese, as the votes in Lunas have shown that the non-Malays voted for the opposition," said Tian.

Tian said that as Umno placed the blame on Mahathir for the waning support of BN, especially in the Lunas by election, Mahathir was using the GPMS issue to divert the attention away from himself and his party's internal problems.

On the statement made by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday that all parties should "heal the fissures" before it results in a racial confrontation, Tian said that this simply shows that "either the DPM is disagreeing with Mahathir on his stand with regard to the GPMS issue or Pak Lah is not in control of the whole situation".

"They say that they will gather 100,000 people should Suqiu refuse to retract their 83-point appeal. Let them (GPMS) gather and see if they can get 100,000 people," said Tian.