Malays feel they have been 'pushed against the wall' - Mahdzir

The Rakyat Bersatu rally in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 16 was a manifestation of the feelings of the Malays who feel they 'have been pushed against the wall,' said a senior UMNO leader.

UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said incidents during the Bersih 4 rally dominated by one race had aroused the feelings of the Malays who decided to join the rally.

"The Malays also have feelings. Many joined the rally not because of incitement by their leaders but feel that the Malays have been 'pushed against the wall'," he told reporters after opening the Padang Terap Veteran UMNO division meeting at Pengkalan Tok Mas, near here today.

Mahdzir, who is also Padang Terap UMNO division chief, said the Malays too wanted to assemble and march after seeing the Bersih 4 rally attended by the Chinese from the DAP.

The stomping of photographs of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang by Bersih 4 participants had hurt the feelings of the Malays.

"What are their motives and intentions. They claim the rally was to reject Datuk Seri Najib. By rejecting Datuk Seri Najib, they are also rejecting the Malays."

The UMNO leader said the other races should respect the feelings of the Malays if they want the Malays to respect their feelings.

The Malays too have the right to assemble and rally as was done by Bersih 4 participants and that it should not be viewed from the racial angle.

"Some people regard anything done by the Malays as racist without taking into account the feelings and rights of the Malays," he added.