Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein today ticked off those who continue to criticise the brandishing of the keris at the ruling party's annual meeting and accused his detractors as the real racists.

In his opening speech at the Umno Youth wing's assembly this morning, he said the party's youth component will no longer entertain those who were seen as harping on the keris issue because they only want to label him as a racist.

"Do not create an enemy that is not there, and do not fear your own shadows," he told the attending Youth delegates at the Putra Workd Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

"Don't get carried away by blunt racial sentiments until you lose the respect built upon years of sacrifices made by the Malays," he added to the applause from his audience.

The education minister then argued that the keris does not necessarily imply Malay supremacy but carries multiple significances such as unity, wisdom and knowledge.

"The King's keris is made of patches of steel originating from 11 Malay states and therefore it signifies unity and not only power," he stressed.

He also chided those who opposed the raising of the keris at the Umno annual assemblies as being ignorant of the identity of the nation's heritage even after the country has celebrated its 50th year of independence.

Symbol of strength

He then reiterated that the keris will always be the symbol of strength for Umno.

According to him, the Youth wing will always execute its obligations to the nation in line with the party's principles as symbolised by the keris.

"We the Youth wing, as the right-hand men of the party, have been entrusted to defend the principal foundations of Umno and we will do so to the last drop of blood we have left," said Hishammuddin. who was greeted by a loud roar from the crowd.

Hishammuddin became the focal point of widespread criticisms in last year's Umno AGM when he raised the keris and spoke of Malay superiority and warned against those who dared to challenge the special privileges of the Malays.

Several quarters, including Umno's coalition partners MCA and Gerakan, lambasted him for being insensitive towards the feelings of other races.

The waving of the keris was also attributed as one of the reason in a voters' opinion poll as to why the Chinese community was likely to vote for the opposition in the next general elections - a claim that has been rejected by the Malay-based party.

Just as in the last two Umno Youth wing opening ceremonies, the traditional Malay dagger was brought into the meeting hall this morning with much fanfare, which was steeped in Malay traditions and customs.

A delegation of top Umno Youth leaders, including Hishammuddin and his deputy, Khairy Jamaluddin, had followed the keris in a procession as they entered the hall.

Simultaneous assemblies

Apart from the Youth wing, both Wanita Umno and Puteri Umno too began their respective general assemblies this morning at the same venue in separate halls.

The assemblies began at 8.30am with Wanita Umno meeting at Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, Umno Youth at Dewan Merdeka and Puteri Umno at Dewan Tun Dr Ismail.

The Wanita Umno assembly is attended by 791 delegates, Umno Youth by 787 delegates and the Puteri Umno by 773 delegates.

The three assemblies were simultaneously opened by Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak last night.