Umno Youth has dished out a toughly-worded warning to partners in the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional that play the racial card to gain support from their respective communities.

To cheers from 798 delegates, Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein said "opportunist politicians" should not try to create a rift in Malaysia's multi-racial society.

"We know who they are. We know where they are and what they are saying. Umno Youth is ready to face these opportunist politicians," he said when opening the wing's meeting this morning as part of the Umno general assembly.

"We will not compromise or give in when it comes to matters involving the future of the country. We will make sure that these sort of leaders have no place in Barisan Nasional."

Hishammuddin spoke from the podium in front of which a keris was placed, but explained that the decision to display the keris was not intended to send any sinister message to Malaysians of other races.

"The keris is not a symbol of colonisation, oppression or exploitation of non-Malays," he claimed, saying that it only embodies the hopes and aspirations of Malays to be attained through the struggles of the party.

Last year, Hishammuddin had brandished a keris during the general assembly and had called on Malays to rally behind Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy).

"I still have not forgotten that, during last year's assembly, the Keris Panca Warisan created anxiety among the non-Malay community," he said, in reference to criticism of his gesture.

"Their thinking and understanding of our culture is backward. Do they not realise that all the while we have been practising the concept of 'Unity in Diversity'?"

Hishammuddin made little mention of former Umno president and ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has scathingly critical of the government and leadership of his successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"Umno Youth does not easily forget the contribution and sacrifice of distinguished Umno leaders ... we are not of the 'out of sight, out of mind' mentality. (But) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, we owe a great deal to Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - (he should) continue to lead us."

'Leave Islam alone'

Hishammuddin also claimed certain quarters are taking advantage of the government's openness.

"Issues of religion and race are debated without rational consideration as to the impact of race relations in the country. Criticism that is supposed to be constructive has reached vindictive levels...

"There are those who use whatever room there is to spread lies, harassment and rumours through all sorts of methods."

Hishammuddin expressed worry over recent developments that have touched on the interests of Malays and Muslims.

"Don't play around, or challenge the position of the Malays and Islam in the country... To those who call themselves the Article 11 group, who mobilise campaigns nationwide on the excuse of raising awareness on religious freedom, Umno Youth wishes to warn them - don't try to raise issues related to Article 11 and Article 121(1A) (of the Federal Constitution)."

Issues related to Islam should be raised through the syariah courts and not the civil courts, he noted, also urged the government to reject the setting up of an inter-faith commission as advocates have proposed.

He then dealt with another recent issue in the news, saying the methodology used by a think-tank in calculating that bumiputera corporate equity at 45 percent was wrong.

Income parity

"The official methods used by the government are far more broad-based (and take a) holistic approach, and clearly show that bumiputera equity is still at 18.9 percent (in 2004).

"This is the true nature of the nation's economy compared findings (of think-tank Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute) which is not grounded in reality. It is unfortunate when a study is polemic in nature, instead of showing reality," he added.

He also said that although the bumiputera was the majority race in the country, the income parity between bumiputera and non-bumiputera was worrisome.

"In fact the gap has widened. For example, the income gap between bumiputera and ethnic Chinese in 2004 is 1:1.64."

"Indeed, is it a crime if the government endeavours to reduced the ration to 1:1.5 by 2010? Has it become such a great sin that the income parity between rural and urban dwellers be reduced from 1:2.11 in 2004 to 1:1.2 in 2010?"

"Believe it that if no action is taken to correct the situation, it would take a further 120 years to reach equal income parity, according to a group of researches from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)."

The Umno assembly, which began yesterday and will end on Friday, also featured the opening of the Wanita Umno meeting this morning.