Khairy: Defending Malay rights doesn't make me a racist

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin (pic) has defended his call to uphold Malay rights against critics who labelled his policy speech given during the party's Annual General Meeting (AGM) as racist.

"In my speech earlier today I said not to question the rights of Malays. That has become a headline (for pro-opposition media) and it was said to be racist. A statement was also released by the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, saying that I am racist," said Khairy.

"In my policy speech I said that we recognise vernacular schools. I said that we need to act as an armor and protector of other races. That we accept other races as Malaysian citizens but all that was not reported. What was reported instead was the image and perception that we are a racist party," said the Youth and Sports Minister.

"I have said that if there are those who insult other races, we must rise and defend those races. This is because we are good people . I have said if there are those who insult other religions we must rise and protect those religions too," said Khairy, who is also Rembau MP.

"But when the time comes to defend out own race and religion, we are then called racist. This cannot be," said Khairy, who urged delegates not to be timid in fighting for Islam and Malay rights.

"Enough with calling us racist. When there are those who fight for the rights of vernacular schools, we accept it. When there are those who fight for minority rights, we accept it. But when there is an assembly of Malays, we cannot talk about Malay issues? Where else can we talk about Malay issues? Where else can we talk about the future of Malays?," he asked.

"Have I said in my policy speech to encroach on the rights of others? Have I called for the closure of vernacular schools? We are only talking about our own issues," he said, stressing that Umno will hold steadfast to the nation's constitution.

In his address, Khairy also brushed aside allegations that the threat to Malay rights was a fabrication created by Umno to appeal to the Malay electorate, arguing that the precarious position of the Malays was a reality.