Zaid slams Perkasa for twisting facts

Pakatan Rakyat coordinator Zaid Ibrahim lashed out today at Malay rights group Perkasa, accusing it of twisting the facts concerning the special rights of bumiputeras.

He was referring to Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali's interview with Malaysiakini where he was quoted as saying that the Malays have been "insulted and derided" and Malay rights as bumiputera have to be protected.

Speaking at the National Youth Conference organised by the Selangor government in Petaling Jaya, Zaid (right) said Perkasa was an example of irresponsible leadership.

He charged Perkasa with deliberately alarming the Malays just to achieve its aims.

"This is what we call primitive politics," said the former law minister and ex-Umno member who had quit the all-Malay party last year over difference in principles.

He told the students present that Ibrahim has repeatedly troubled the community with his call that the rights of the Malays privileges as provided for in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution have to be protected.

"Even I am Malay but who wants to take our rights away that he has to protect them?" asked Zaid.

The former minister also implied that Dr Mahathir Mohamed was involved in their activities as the former prime minister is scheduled to officiate the NGO's first general meeting next week.

He then urged the 900 participants not to be fooled by "the fear that has been engineered by irresponsible politicians".

"In Malaysia (number of) bumiputeras is large. In Sabah and Sarawak, the Ibans are about 60 percent and that does not include the Melanaus.

"It is not right to say our rights will be taken away by anyone," he told the mostly Malay participants.

He pointed out that the majority of parliamentarians are bumiputeras, so it is an impossible to move an amendment to the special rights.

"Although it is an irrational approach there are people who would be fooled and trapped by it... that is why it is important to educate yourself," he said.

Let people see oil royalty agreement

On another matter, Zaid challenged the federal government to put on display the oil royalty agreement between Petronas and the state governments so that the people can evaluate for themselves.

"Have ever seen the agreement? Why can't the three-page agreement be displayed to the public? Why? Simply because they want to trick the people," he said.

The issue of the petroleum and liquefied gas royalty has been a hot issue since last year after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced that Kelantan and Terengganu will be given "goodwill" payments for the oil that extracted off their coastal borders.

Opposition MPs, especially those from PAS-ruled Kelantan, rejected the offer saying that the federal government should pay the state royalty - to which it is entitled - rather than a 'goodwill payment', likening it to charity.

Zaid said the agreement between the state governments and Petronas clearly specifies the former's share of the company's profits.

"It does not state anywhere the distances in nautical miles (which is disputed by federal government). It just states, if I get RM1, you will get 5 sen," he said.

courtesy of Malaysiakini