Hisham's Apology - What Apology and Why NOW?

Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein today apologised for raising the keris "if it had affected the non-Malays". This is not an apology but a qualified apology. Is Hisham still doubtful whether the "raising of keris" has hurt the feelings of the non-Malays?

Let me say it loud and clear. Not only the non-Malays's feelings are hurt but that many Malays felt embarrassed by his act and the accompanying statements of the other UMNO youths like "bila mana tikam dengan keris itu?"

Therefore, Hisham's such a qualified apology is not an apology. Despite the loss in the March Election, Hisham is still unrepentant about his "racist act".

In his so-called apology, he still termed the keris act as an act to uphold the Malay symbol. If this is the so-called Malay symbol, then is Hisham accusing his other predecessors or the other UMNO leaders to be less Malay than himself?

Many sensible and right-thinking Malays are also of the view that the waving of keris by Hisham is a political stunt of Hisham, playing the racial sentimen. It is irresponsible act like this that is causing disunity among the different races in Malaysia. Hisham's act is a shame and insult to all Malaysian.

There are more intelligent and sensible ways to motivate the Malays in UMNO like giving them better education and scholarships, spending more time in the constituencies to solve their problems, built more hospitals and clinics, and teach them English so that they will be able to compete globally with the Mat Sallehs. Otherwise, you can also give out more APs to a larger segment of the Malay community, or distributing Petronas and Khazanah's wealth to all of the Malays, but not to your few leaders in UMNO or brandishing keris as your struggle against other races.

Therefore, Hisham should relinquish and tender his resignation resignation from all posts immediately.

The fact is that UMNO founded along ethnic line is the root of the problem. If politicians continue to maneuver support by rallying single ethnic group, Malaysia will perpetually threatened with inter-ethnic confrontation.