'Umno will defend Islam, Bumiputeras, Malay Rulers, Malay language' - Asyraf Wajdi
He also urged Umno to remain humble and learn from past leadership, which prioritised moderation and true power-sharing.
KUALA LUMPUR - Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has assured Bumiputeras that they can rely on Umno to uphold their rights.
He outlined four key objectives of the party which were to defend Islam as the religion of the federation, uphold the special rights of Bumiputeras, maintain the unique position of the Malay rulers and ensure the Malay language remained the national language.
"If these principles are upheld by the political coalition, it can restore the harmony that was once built when we gained independence and formed a coalition with Barisan Nasional (BN) in 1974.
"The unity government should adopt this approach and learn from it, which needs to be continually emphasised among the Malays.
"To the people, especially Bumiputeras, don't worry, as long as you have Umno, we will defend Islam, Bumiputeras, Malay rulers and the Malay language," he added.
He said this during the Umno General Assembly held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, today.
He also stressed the importance of understanding Malaysia's multicultural society.
By recognising this diversity, he said, there should no longer be a perception of Bumiputeras and Muslims opposing other races and religions.
Reflecting on the Nenggiri by-election, he noted that this misunderstanding led to the perception that the position of Islam and the special rights of Bumiputeras were compromised.
"All 19 parties in Malaysia, not just DAP, agreed to an approach that respects the diversity of religions and races.
"So, we can no longer use the sentiment of the Malays being against other races or the Muslims being against other religions.
"This is a pluralistic country with a variety of races and religions in nature," Asyraf said, advocating for this inclusive approach to continue.
He also urged Umno to remain humble and learn from past leadership, which prioritised moderation and true power-sharing.
He also highlighted the importance of Malaysian Islamic civilisation among the younger generation, which should not only focus on Islamic education, such as memorising the Quran, but also on acquiring professional knowledge and skills.
