Umno guarantees Malay rule, says Khairy
The Umno Youth chief said that component parties in Barisan Nasional (BN) had full confidence in the Malay party leading the coalition and the government, therefore rendering any change to the Constitution unnecessary.
"We believe Umno is able to offer leadership to all Malaysians...even without constitutional amendment, Malaysians will support the concept of Malay leadership that is fair and just to all," Khairy said during his speech at his party's youth wing assembly here.
PKR youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mat Akin had dared Umno last week to amend the federal constitution to state that the prime minister must be Malay because "history shows Umno is willing to sell out everything."
"To ensure that the last Malay stronghold, that is political power, is not traded away by Umno, we challenge Umno to amend the federal constitution to insert conditions and guarantees that the prime minister must be Malay.
"The excuse that the post is held by a Malay because Umno is in power cannot be accepted. To cover up their evil, those who question them are accused of betraying Malays," he had said.
Khairy (picture) labelled PKR as "desperate" in response to Shamsul's remarks.
"Perhaps PKR is beginning to realise that Malay support for them is on the wane, Malays are now aware that PKR is not able to fight for their interests and future," he said.
Khairy said Umno's appeal among voters was because of a "fear" that if Pakatan Rakyat took over Putrajaya, the PM will not be from PKR or PAS.
"PKR lacks self-esteem and identity so much that they have to turn to Umno to do their bidding," he added.
PR defacto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has since moved to clarify that his coalition would not support any move by Umno to amend the Constitution to guarantee a Malay prime minister.
The PKR de facto leader explained that his party youth wing's challenge Umno to do so was merely a part of PKR's "strategy" and was neither a "Keadilan nor Pakatan Rakyat stand."
Umno has repeatedly accused PR of selling out the Malays to Chinese and foreign interests, insisting that the Malays can only be protected if Barisan Nasional (BN) remains in power.
Since the landmark Election 2008 where PR denied BN its customary two-thirds majority of Parliament and five state governments, the Malays have swung back towards the ruling coalition even as Chinese support for the federal opposition has increased.
Racial tension has also heightened over the past few years especially with repeated allegations that Muslims are being proselytised.
Umno's Utusan Malaysia accused the DAP earlier this year of conspiring with the church to turn Malaysia into a Christian state and install a Christian prime minister.
A coalition of Muslim NGOs known as Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Gathering of a Million Faithful) has also organised several gatherings around the country to "rise up to the challenge of Christianisation."
Article 153 of the constitution grants the Agong di-Pertuan Agong responsibility to "safeguard the special position of the Malays" and has been interpreted by Malay rights groups to justify special privileges in the economy, religion and education.
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