Malays taken advantage of because they are too polite, says Umno delegate

Terengganu delegate Mohd Iskandar Jaafar says non-Muslims trampled on the rights of Malays when insisting that the Sedition Act is repealed. – The Malaysian Insider pic, November 28, 2014.The Malays are being taken advantage of by other races in the country because they are "too polite", and this is reflected in the way non-Muslims trampled on their rights when insisting that the Sedition Act be repealed, an Umno delegate said.

“Non-Muslims do not understand our culture, they are not polite like us, that is why they are taking advantage of us," said Terengganu delegate Mohd Iskandar Jaafar.

Pointing out that the different views on the colonial-era law have resulted in a clash between Muslims and non-Muslims, he told the Malays to rise up from their old "disease" of being too polite.

Iskandar, from the Setiu Umno division, said party members felt at peace when party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that the Sedition Act would remain.

"Many had initially wanted to go all out and whack if the Sedition Act is repealed, but the president sprinkled rain on earth to cool our hearts," he said, referring to members’ feelings following Najib's announcement yesterday.

After garnering feedback from various individuals and groups, Najib said the colonial-era law will remain, reneging on his promise two years ago to repeal the law.

But he said changes would be made to the act, including provisions making it an offence to insult religions.

Calls for the secession of Sabah and Sarawak would also be included in a provision under the fortified Sedition Act, said Najib.

Najib first announced the plan to abolish the act in June 2012, to be replaced by a National Harmony Act. The Sedition Act was amended five times with the last one in 1975.

But his plan was sternly opposed by the party’s conservatives such as Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. – November 28, 2014.