October 25, 2010
Nurul Izzah: While the Parliament is still in session, I call upon the Prime Minister to turn his speech into action within 30 days.
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Nurul Izzah Anwar has challenged Datuk Seri Najib Razak to turn his Umno assembly speech into action, or risk becoming a daydreamer like the Malay folklore character Mat Jenin and not the legendary warrior Hang Tuah.
The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmaker demanded today that Najib repeal undemocratic laws, ensure freedom of the press and to conduct fair elections within the next 30 days.
Citing the two iconic Malay cultural characters Najib had referenced himself during the Umno assembly, she said the prime minister now had the chance to prove that he possessed Hang Tuah’s courage and sense of fair play or follow in Mat Jenin’s “delusional footsteps”.
“While the Parliament is still in session, I call upon the Prime Minister to turn his speech into action within 30 days,” Nurul Izzah said in a press statement.
She said Najib’s success in repealing anti-democratic laws and safeguarding freedom of the press as well as free elections will serve as “benchmarks” for Umno’s legitimacy and Najib’s own moral leadership.
The Lembah Pantai MP urged the prime minister to repeal all anti-democratic laws to prove that he believed Malay rights were so tightly locked in the Constitution that they could be not be easily repealed.
“The Prime Minister had said, ‘The Malay Rights are tightly locked with a key and enshrined in the Constitution’. Therefore in Parliament, the Prime Minister must repeal all anti-democratic laws such as the ISA (Internal Security Act), AUKU (Universities and University Colleges Act), and the PPPA (Printing Presses and Publications Act), which is no longer needed to protect those rights,” she said.
Nurul Izzah added that if Malay special rights were protected by the Council of Rulers, as Najib has stressed, they would continue to be upheld even if PR manages to seize Putrajaya one day.
“Doesn’t Umno trust in the Malay Ruler’s wisdom and judgment to hold the key for all Malaysians?” she said.
Nurul Izzah also urged Najib to guarantee freedom of the press in line with his call to Malays to face a “competition of the minds” as this would enable the creation of an informed society.
“Wouldn’t this nurture the people’s mind and soul to face the modern era?” she asked.
Since Malays can “compete with the best”, the prime minister should also take measures to ensure free and fair elections, Nurul Izzah added. She said Najib should follow in the footsteps of Hang Tuah — whom the prime minister referenced several times in his speeches - who chose to fight fairly on a level playing field.
In his speech last Thursday and Saturday, Najib stressed that it was critical for Malays to prepare themselves for the coming era.
“Instead of obsessing about rights, the 21st century Malay should instead prepare himself to utilise those rights. What is the use of quotas, reserves and permits if all are wasted?” he had said. “What use is opportunity if sacrificed for short-term gain?”
“Like it or not, the Malays of this century should face reality to seize success,” Najib continued.
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