| Laman Webantu KM2A1: 3472 File Size: 11.0 Kb * |
STS: Rally to go .. GPMS VS Umno Youth.. By Wan Hamidi Hamid 22/12/2000 10:20 pm Fri |
|
From The Singapore Straits Times Rally to go ahead despite leaders' call to back off
GPMS says it will protest against Chinese pressure group that wants an
end to special rights for Malays unless its demands are withdrawn by
Jan 14 By Wan Hamidi Hamid A MALAY-student movement is engaged in a dangerous game of
one-upmanship, one that could unsettle race relations in Malaysia.
Despite a call by Malaysian leaders to back off, the Federation of
Peninsula Malay Students (GPMS) yesterday said it was going ahead with
a rally at the 100,000-seater National Stadium to protest against a
Chinese pressure group which is seeking an end to special rights for
Malays. It would only back down if Suqiu withdrew its demands by Jan 14.
Behind this tough stance is a battle for the right to be the voice of
young Malays. GPMS leaders believe championing this issue will give them the support
to take over the mantle from a 'weak' Umno Youth.
But their plans went awry after Umno Youth's chief Datuk Hishammuddin
Hussein offered to sit down with Suqiu leaders and put an end to the
episode that has caused an escalation of racial tension.
GPMS president Datuk Suhaimi Ibrahim was concerned at surrendering the
initiative to Umno Youth. He questioned Datuk Hishammuddin's motive in entering the fray so
late. He said: 'Why didn't Umno Youth act earlier? Why now? If Umno Youth
really loves the Malays, its leaders should have done something good
earlier. 'This is not about seeking popularity. This is about the future of the
Malays.' His broadside drew an immediate response from Umno Youth secretary
Zulkifli Alwi. He said that no one should doubt the movement's commitment to the
Malay agenda. 'We have addressed the issue earlier than anybody else. Why is it that
GPMS is questioning us now? 'I recall that when we invited the Malay groups to discuss this issue
with Umno Youth months ago, GPMS did not even turn up for the
meeting.' In August, Umno Youth's deputy chief Datuk Aziz Sheikh Fadzir and
several hundred supporters marched to the Suqiu office and demanded
that the group apologise to the Malays for asking the government to
remove the distinction between bumiputras and non-bumiputras.
Mr Zulkifli also said that Datuk Hishammuddin wanted to sit down and
talk to the Chinese group to highlight the possible repercussions of
these demands and point out that everybody stood to lose if matters
got out of hand. Umno Youth believed that holding the rally would serve no purpose and
prefered to get all parties to the negotiating table.
But Datuk Suhaimi's position was clear: the gathering will go on after
Jan 14, the deadline for Suqiu to withdraw its demands.
Malay students' group 'seeking a higher profile'
Organisation had more clout in the 50s and 60s
By Wan Hamidi Hamid THE Federation of Peninsula Malay Students (GPMS) fits the bill of a
dormant organisation. It used to be influential in the 50s and 60s and played a key role in
setting the agenda of the Malays. But the emergence of Anwar Ibrahim, the Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia
and a string of other youth groups diluted the influence of this
group. It is seeking a higher profile by championing the rights of the Malays
against Suqiu. It was formed in Singapore in 1948, and its founding members included
prominent nationalist educationist Aminuddin Baki and Dr Siti Hasmah
Mohd Ali, wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir
Mohamad. GPMS led the call to make Malay the national language and defend the
culture and arts of the Malays. After Independence, GPMS introduced tuition classes for the Malays.
By the 80s, with the advent of Islamic resurgence, GPMS was slowly
losing its steam. Malay youths were more interested in religious-based
organisations such as the Islamic Youth Movement (Abim).
Even former leaders like Dr Syed Husin Ali admit to the problems faced
by the Malay student group. 'It is misleading to claim that GPMS has a membership of 400,000
students. 'I nevertheless appreciate that a good number of them are actively
involved in giving tuition and other educational help to students.'
Former leaders of GPMS include Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Malaysian Human Rights Council (Suhakam)
Chairman Tan Sri Musa Hitam.
THE BIG QUARREL IN AUGUST last year, Chinese activists came up with 17 agendas listing
83 points for a better Malaysia. The group Suqiu submitted its appeals
to all political parties for endorsement.
A year later, Suqiu celebrated the appeals' first anniversary. This
prompted Umno Youth to react, accusing Suqiu of insulting the Malays
for trying to abolish Malay special rights.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his
National Day speech on Aug 31 likened Suqiu to communists.
Last week, the Federation of Peninsula Malay Students (GPMS) demanded
that Suqiu withdraw its demands. It also threatened to submit a
100-point demand to ensure Malay supremacy.
Umno Youth leader Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein offered to play
peacemaker and to put an end to the escalation of racial tension.
http://thestar.com.my/news/ http://www.bernama.com/bernama/general/ge2112_22.htm
December 21 , 2000 20:24PM Abdullah wants Suqiu row defused
Abdullah, who is also Home Minister, said there were indications that
certain provocative quarters were using the media to inflame sentiments
further. " What is uppermost now is not to let these provokers have their way to
instigate those trying to resolve the predicament," he said.
Abdullah, who is the Member of Parliament for Kepala Batas, was speaking to
reporters after presenting Hari Raya Aidil Fitri gifts to poor folk here
Thursday. In getting about the problem, he said, all quarters should be guided by a
genuine desire to preserve order, unity and peace.
Abdullah was also asked about the formation of a so-called Malay Rights
Committee by GPMS, the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students, decided in
Kuala Lumpur yesterday. While saying that the decision was only spontaneous and motivated by the
arising controversy, Abdullah cautioned that whatever the next course of
action, it should provide a solution and not worsen the situation.
"I hope this development does not complicate the matter further...we have
to constantly self-examine ourselves...if our action only complicates the
matter further... I'm afraid there will no way out of it," he said.
On talks planned between Umno Youth and Suqiu, Abdullah said that since
Umno Youth had chosen to initiate a dialogue, he wished both sides would
bring about a positive outcome. "...most importantly we do not want tension and confrontation to add to the
problem," he said. He said what basically happened was the questioning of provisions already
enshrined in the Constitution and which should not have happened in the
first place. Meanwhile in SHAH ALAM, Umno vice president Tan Sri Muhammad Muhamad Taib
described the proposed Umno Youth-Suqiu dialogue as unnecessary as it would
not bear any significance. He said a dialogue would seek resolutions whereas in the present case the
resolution was already clear and obvious that the Malays would not displace
their special rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
"The solution was reached since 1957 when the country was on the eve of
independence when all the races agreed on the guarantees of each others
rights," he said at a news conference after presenting Hari Raya gifts to
security forces personnel at the Selangor Umno headquarters.
Muhammad urged all quarters to refrain from debating the issue openly. "It
is far better for all quarters to concentrate on building a progressive
nation able to compete and deal with the issues of globalisation..and on
doing other beneficial things," he added.
Meanwhile in KUALA LUMPUR, Umno Youth chief Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein
today defended his decision to initiate the dialogue with Suqiu, saying
such approach was the best way to defuse the issue.
"Umno Youth reckons that the proposed dialogue is appropriate in seeking an
amicable end to the issue with Suqiu and in the best way not detrimental to
what we have built in the past 43 years," he told reporters at Parliament
House lobby. Hishammuddin was reacting to GPMS president Datuk Suhaimi Ibrahim's remarks
that Umno Youth was slow in reacting to the petition raised by Suqiu or the
Malaysian Chinese Organisation's Election Appeals Committee.
-- BERNAMA http://www.nstpi.com.my/Current_News/NST/
Thursday/NewsBreak/20001221162804 Fadzil raps GPMS planned gathering, says Pas won't be dragged into
Suqiu issue by Shahrum Sayuthi (Perlis Correspondent)
21 December 2000 He said the intended gathering, which would involve 100,000 people, should
not be allowed to proceed as it would include GPMS members who are mostly
students. Fadzil, who was speaking at a Pas ceramah in Jejawi near here, said the
party would not allow itself to be dragged into the issue.
He said other Opposition parties which were alligned with Pas had also
taken the stand of not to be directly involved in the debate over the
Suqui's demands. Fadzil, nevertheless, said Pas agreed with some of Suqui's demands
particularly those involving the scrapping of the Internal Security Act and
putting the Anti-Corruption Agency under the control of Parliament instead
of the Prime Minister's Department. "We must bear in mind that only two per cent of the 17 demands which
contains 83 points (made by Suqui) are racially motivated. The rest, as
pointed out by MCA, contains basic universal values," he added.
|