Published September 11, 2008

Racial slur saga: Umno suspends state party leader

Decision reflects Malay party's need to accommodate ethnic minorities

By S JAYASANKARAN
IN KUALA LUMPUR
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AN emergency meeting of the Supreme Council of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) yesterday suspended a party leader from Penang for three years for alleged racist remarks and insubordination to the party leadership.

Damage control: Prime Minister Abdullah (right) shaking hands with Gerakan president and former Penang chief minister Koh Tsu Koon after BN's Supreme Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday

Umno's surprisingly tough stance against Ahmad Ismail could go a long way towards appeasing ethnic Chinese members of the country's ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, in which Umno is dominant. Besides the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Gerakan, BN includes three smaller Chinese parties from East Malaysia.

'The council is of the opinion that Ahmad's statements and actions have caused tension and raised objections and we view the matter seriously,' Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters after a three-hour meeting of the Supreme Council.

Umno's decision reflects its need to accommodate minorities after recent elections showed a clear trend among non-Malays to vote for the Opposition. The trend triggered moves by minority parties in the BN to stand up to Umno to prove their independence and self-worth.

Some Umno leaders had speculated that Mr Ahmad would receive only a token punishment because his statements resonated among Umno faithful who feel politically threatened by the non-Malay swing after the March 8 election.

Mr Ahmad allegedly branded Malaysian Chinese 'squatters' and refused to apologise after he was told to do so by the party leadership. Instead, he went further - likening the Chinese to American Jews 'who not only dominate economically but want to dominate politically' and warning the Chinese 'not to push the Malays'.

Penang MCA and Gerakan units promptly severed all ties with Umno Penang and insisted Mr Ahmad be sternly punished. Some Gerakan leaders wondered openly if it was time to pull out of the BN. Their veiled threats may, in part, help explain Umno's uncompromising attitude towards Mr Ahmad. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly maintained that the BN government will fall through defections by BN lawmakers to his Pakatan Rakyat coalition, perhaps as early as next week.

Analysts said yesterday Mr Abdullah had to be seen to be reasserting control, especially after the chief of the armed forces advised the government on Tuesday to act tough against anyone stoking up racial tension. 'Whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter, the Prime Minister has to be seen to exercise leadership,' said former top journalist and political commentator A Kadir Jasin. 'This thing has been going on for weeks now and he has been flip-flopping. You have to end it because if you don't, it can take a life of its own.'

Meanwhile, Mr Anwar, 61, met reporters yesterday after the first hearing on his sodomy case resulted in it being postponed to Sept 25. His lawyers objected to a proposal by the Attorney-General to move the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court, arguing that lower court was perfectly capable of handling the case. The judge fixed the date for both sides to give their arguments.

Outside the court, Mr Anwar said he 'has the numbers' but may have to wait a few days after his target date of Sept 16 to make an announcement because 42 BN lawmakers have been sent for an 'educational' trip to study farming in Taiwan and will not return until after Sept 16. 'In any case, there will be a surprise occurring on that day,' he told reporters.

His aides seem to agree.

'Umno is on its way out, it is a sinking ship,' Din Merican, a former corporate figure who joined Mr Anwar's party early this year, told BT. 'Change is coming. I never thought I would see Umno brought down to its knees in my lifetime.'