From The Singapore Straits Times
21st December 2000

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it will protest against Chinese pressure group that wants an end to special rights for Malays unless its demands are withdrawn by Jan 14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
IN KUALA LUMPUR

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
IN KUALA LUMPUR

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

KEPALA BATAS, Dec 21 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reiterated that the row arising from the 17-point petition by the Chinese pressure group, Suqiu be defused and not inflamed further.

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

Pas president Datuk Fadzil Noor last night rapped the leadership of the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) for planning a big gathering to protest against demands by the Malaysian Chinese Organisations' Election Appeal Committee (Suqiu).

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.