Umno Youth today submitted a memorandum of protest to the Malaysian Chinese Organisations Election Appeals Committee (Suqiu), asking it to apologise for questioning Bumiputra and Malay rights and privileges.

This was followed by a demonstration of about 200 people against Suqiu opposite the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

Suqiu executive secretary Wong Chin Huat told malaysiakini that the Umno Youth representatives were led by its deputy leader Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir, who came with about 50 supporters, to present the memorandum and gave Suqiu one week to apologise to "all Malays and Bumiputras".

Wong said Suqiu invited the representatives for a dialogue over the matter, insisting that they had not questioned the rights and privileges of the Malays, but the representatives were only interested in getting an apology.

"We showed them our statement (issued to the press earlier) that we had not raised the issue of special rights but they were not willing to listen. They said no to a dialogue session as well. They only wanted to hear our apologies," Wong said.

Wong also said he informed the group that Suqiu's stand had been misrepresented in a Malay daily but they kept demanding an apology.

He added that people were confused and still unaware of Suqiu's [#1] 17-point agenda [/#] and to rectify this situation, Suqiu will be carrying an advertisement in Utusan Malaysia soon.

Wong said the group came to Suqiu's office at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur, shouting slogans and carrying placards in support of the Malay race.

The memorandum

In the memorandum, which was signed by Aziz, Mokhzani Mahathir, Azimi Daim and all other Umno Youth exco members, the movement expressed its regret over Suqiu's "irresponsible and rude" actions in raising the issue.

The movement said Suqiu was exploiting the situation at a time when the Malays were not united, adding that Suqiu should stop testing the patience of Umno Youth by harping on the issue.

"Umno Youth will not be responsible for any negative reaction creating racial problems emanating from Suqiu's stands," the memorandum stated.

The movement wants Suqiu to withdraw its call, which the movement claimed as seeking the revocation of the rights and privileges, adding that it should also apologise for causing distress among the Malays; Suqiu should respect the rights of the Malays and Bumiputras as enshrined in the Federal Constitution; and should not raise racial matters involving the Malays.

Demonstration There was also a demonstration against Suqiu opposite the Chinese Assembly Hall where about 200 people gathered to show their displeasure.

Umno Youth exco Mohammad Norza Zakaria said the gathering was not organised by Umno Youth but were made up of people who had come on their own to support the presentation of the memorandum.

Wong said the demonstration took place for about one hour and was mainly under control.

However, Suqiu secretary Ser Choon Ing told malaysiakini that the demonstrators were abusive and unruly.

Reporters covering the event also said the crowd was aggressive, and some reporters were harassed and at least one photographer assaulted by one of the demonstrators.

Yesterday Utusan Malaysia carried a front page article quoting Suqiu officials as claiming that the movement was still adamant in seeking to abolish the special status enjoyed by the Malays along with another 16-point election appeal.

Suqiu officials denied the claims made by the daily, stating that their stand had been misquoted and taken out of context ([#2] Media manipulates special rights issue [/#], Aug 17).

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