Sanusi defends ‘Tanah Melayu’ remarks

SEREMBAN: Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has defended his remarks that Malays “only have Tanah Melayu,” saying the phrase reflects language used in British parliamentary debates since the 1940s.

He said the controversy stemmed from his speech at a ceramah in Jempol on July 23, where he linked Malay identity, political history and the ­formation of the Federation of Malaya.

“When I delivered the speech, it was in the context of the Negeri Sembilan election campaign,” he said, adding that his remarks were meant to highlight the Malays’ economic and political position.

Muhammad Sanusi said the idea that Malaya was the historical and only homeland of the Malays was not new, claiming it had been acknowledged by Oliver Stanley in 1946, Lord Killearn in 1949 and Lord Ogmore in 1957.

The Perikatan Nasional election director also said that his speech was not a call to deny citizenship or rights to non-Malay Malaysians.

“Saying that Malaya is the ­historical homeland of the Malays is not the same as saying that non-Malay Malaysians have no rights to Malaysia.”

He added that Malaysians of Chinese and Indian descent who are citizens have constitutional rights and a place in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said a second police report has been lodged against Muhammad Sanusi over the remarks.