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Unite the nation, not your own, Zaid tells Malay leaders

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The former Cabinet minister says Malay leaders need a paradigm shift and should stop fearing intellectuals, meritocracy and liberals.

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Free Malaysia Today
Malay leaders are still in denial and do not want to step out of the old narrative of “uniting their own to win general elections”, says Zaid Ibrahim.

PETALING JAYA:
Former federal minister Zaid Ibrahim has warned that Indonesia and Vietnam will overtake Malaysia economically unless people speak up so that leaders change their ways.

Saying Malay leaders continued to divide Malaysians through race and religion just to win elections while fearing liberals, intellectuals and meritocracy, Zaid called for the holding of a congress on the economy with participation from various parties and groups to begin a shift in thinking.

The Malay leaders, he said, were still in denial and did not want to step out of the old narrative of “uniting their own to win general elections”.

The former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said these leaders lacked a vision to develop the country, which he added was crucial to the 12th Malaysia Plan coming up next year.

“They are still using race and religion as political tools,” he told FMT.

For Malaysia to prosper, he said Malay leaders must change this attitude. They should not fear the liberals, intellectuals, meritocracy or the non-Malays.

“We are Malaysians. Don’t be afraid to use a different approach. How long do we want to pedal backwards without any development?” he asked, calling for a paradigm shift among Malay leaders.

He said as a starting point for a paradigm shift, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin should hold a congress on the economic challenges facing the nation.

He said apart from political parties, NGOs, community leaders and GLCs should also be invited to participate in congress. It should include all races.

“Let them speak freely and without worry of being arrested under the Sedition Act,” he said.

The congress could focus on the economy and the well-being of the rakyat. The congress, he said, would help the people gauge which political party would be able to take the country forward.

For instance, questions such as whether PAS would be able to bring development to women and Orang Asli and whether the DAP’s policies would benefit the Malays and Bumiputeras could be clearly answered at the congress.

People would also get to know what policies Umno and PPBM had to develop the economy.

Zaid said the congress could provide some “humility” to ministers to look at ways to unite Malaysians and to take the country forward.

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