Keris Wielding Act a symbol of struggle, says Hisham

UMNO Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishamuddin reminded the Chinese community they need not fear and have a misconception of the “Panca Warisan keris”, a new symbol of the Youth movement’s political struggle.

Hishamuddin said the keris was aimed at injecting a new spirit among younger Malays and had no ulterior motives.

“The UMNO Youth sees the keris as a symbol of our renewed spirit in empowering the Malays through the umbrella of UMNO. This does not mean that we would not be empowering the Malays through Barisan Nasional.”

“If the community (Chinese) is still afraid of the keris, then I believe they are not able to compete in today’s globalised world which is the talking about atomic bomb, nuclear and scud missile,” he said.

Thank you Hisham for your explanation. Hopefully, the Chinese community can breathe easier now. But you need not choose a weapon to show your economic struggle. The Malays are sensible people and they are capable to think if UMNO Youth is sincerely protecting their interest. Many are successful even tho' they did not directly benefit from the APs and NEP. They had worked hard to earned whatever wealth they had now. Some are still struggling, particularly those from the kampungs. You can use UMNO building funds to help them. The keris won't help them; money will!

Fortunately, the MCA and Gerakan who also are championing the other communities did not resort to ape your act at the recent general assembly. If at the recent general assembly, MCA decides to copy your act and use a sword as a symbol, and Gerakan uses a spear to portray their struggle, and next year it will be MIC's turn to wield a parang to symbolise their struggle, then, if that happens, we may have to face a new clash of civilization . Then you would have set a new trend for the others such as Kadazan, Bidayuh, Dayak, Malanaus, Sikhs, etc to use such symbols like blow-pipes, changkul, water-pistol, ice-cream, cocks, chickens, ducks, dogs, pigs, etc.

Believe me, it is unnecessary to do so. 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.

For me and the many Chinese and Indians, we are happy to be what we are, not rich, but not living below poverty level. Give my children education up to university level based on their merits; that, I am thankful. I will work hard to earn a few bucks to keep my family surviving. So, you don't have to give me APs.