Muhyiddin: Govt labelling Bersatu's fight for bumiputera, Islam as 3R offence

Bersatu’s fight to defend the rights of the bumiputera and Islam’s position as the religion of the federation has been labelled as a 3R (race, religion, and royalty) offence by the government, said party president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Despite it being done without disrupting the rights of other ethnicities and religions, the former prime minister lamented that the fight has extended to Bersatu members being accused of incitement and getting taken to court.

"The irony is that this government, when it was in opposition, strongly fought for the rights and freedom of the people in the name of reform.

"Today, they are the most greedy dictators. They shamelessly use legal instruments and government institutions to restrict the freedom of expression of the people, especially their political opponents,” he said in a statement on Facebook yesterday.

Muhyiddin (above) attributed this to the government pursuing its own political interests through a narrative that has been rejected by the country’s indigenous people.

"That is why they (the government) are so greedy in restricting our freedom to voice the rights of Malays and bumiputera as well as the position of Islam as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution, which is the basis of our party's struggle,” he added.

On Aug 27, Muhyiddin claimed trial to sedition at the Gua Musang Sessions Court before judge Nik Mohd Tarmizie Nik Mohd Shukri.

The charge against the Perikatan Nasional chairperson was framed under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act over a speech he gave in Felda Perasu in Kelantan on Aug 14, ahead of the Nenggiri by-election.

Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek slammed the charge, calling it dictatorial of the government as it is not seditious to question or criticise the exercise of constitutional power by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as the king is not a feudal ruler in a country that practises constitutional monarchy.

Bersatu’s ‘long holy struggle’

In conjunction with Bersatu’s eighth anniversary yesterday, the president urged members to continue the struggle for the sake of Islam and the country.

"Although our party is only eight years old, the link of our party's struggle spans a long time and history.

"This struggle, which was carried out by the fighters of our nation in the past, became the basis for the construction of an independent Malaysian nation with its people of multiple races and religions living in peace and harmony.

"Indeed, today we are the ones who bear the trust of this holy struggle,” he said.

The veteran politician also called the Federal Constitution and pre-independence “social contract” the foundation of the country’s unity and harmony.

The “social contract” alludes to an unwritten bargain allegedly struck between the Malays and the minorities, which governed special benefits to the bumiputera.

Muhyiddin said that this foundation maintains the country’s political stability and drives its progress amid a diverse population.

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