Say it loud, Wan Azizah tells PKR: 'WE are the future'

Mired in the indulgence and opulence their ill-gotten gains, Umno are no longer fit to champion the aspirations of the Malay community they claim to represent, said PKR president Wan Azizah Ismail.

As a result, it is high time for PKR to step into the lead role and reconcile all of its disparate communities towards the fulfilment of their aspirations, she told the 2,010 delegates attending the party's sixth national congress in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.


“The party is aware of our multi-cultural platform that can satisfy (all) people. Although they (Umno) deny it, the results of the last general election (in March 2008) is proof that the political future of this country can bring about the reconciliation of all races,” she said.

As such, said Wan Azizah, PKR members should not be 'shy' in declaring they had gone beyond the mindset of race-based politics.

“The future of Malaysia is a multi-racialism which builds on the unique strengths of each race.

“So do not be shy to convince the rakyat that we are the party of the future,” she declared.
While such racial politics is no longer able to address the hopes of its current and future generations, Wan Azizah however warned that the path ahead is fraught with dangers and challenges.

This can be seen in Umno's reactionary posturing and labeling of PKR as “anti-Malay”, she noted, and its attempts to affect greater racial polarisation.
“Unfortunately, Umno's answer to this new (non-racial) political culture is to incite seditious and racist sentiments to continue dividing the people and to increase racial polarisation,” she said.
She said further that Umno's racialism is its “most powerful weapon,” despite being a far-cry from the rhetoric and promises of '1Malaysia'.
“Malaysia must be saved from being continuously beleaguered by dangerous sentiments,” said Wan Azizah.

'Malays cheated by Umno'

Turning to the New Economic Policy (NEP) purportedly put in place to serve as a bulwark of affirmative action for the Malay community, Wan Azizah rebuked Umno for using it to instil fear into the Malay community.“Umno is trying to convince the people that we are willing to gamble away the interests of the Malays in calling for the abolition of the NEP.“We need to convince the people that the NEP has failed to achieve its objectives (only) because most its implementation has been against the spirit of the NEP (itself),” said Wan Azizah. The NEP has been an instrument to conceal the corruption of Umno leaders and browbeating them into remaining loyal to the party, she added.
“The Malays and the Bumiputeras have long been cheated by Umno. They want the Malays to rely solely on the government, because Umno has noticed that when the Malays begin to believe in their own capabilities, they will no longer require the support of its politicians.”All this does not mean, however, that PKR can rest on its laurels and take March 8, 2008, for granted, said Wan Azizah.
The propaganda spun by the mainstream media does have its effect on Malay voters, she added, and this means that PKR leaders and activists must explain as much as is needed in order to gain support from the Malay community.“The party is very clear on the position of the Malays and the bumiputeras, and our Pakatan Rakyat common platform openly upholds the special position of the Malays and bumiputeras as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
“The question of the position of the Malays is the question of self-esteem and competitiveness. The Malays need to be competitive, creative and innovative. Stand and fight to build an identity and the strengthen the economy for (the sake of) Malays, bumiputeras and the people at large,” urged Wan Azizah.


Special task force

Wan Azizah also announced the setting up of a special task force to research issues affecting the Malay community and that would also look into widening the party's support base.
Among the issues that are being looked into are the state and future of Felda plantations, improving the skills of civil servants, and Islamic property management.
“I guarantee that the teams which will be made up by various races will be tasked (with their own responsibilities), as the 'Malay' issues aren't exclusive to the Malays only. It is a responsibility that will be undertaken by all the leaders.
“The same goes for issues affecting other races. They will also be the responsibility of the Malay leaders,” she said.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/133069