Claiming majority, Malay groups want Bumis as ‘core’ decision-makers on national policies The Malay Mail Online

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 — The National Unity Convention passed today a declaration that, among others, sought for Bumiputera citizens to be officially recognised as “bangsa teras”, or “core group”, who “calls the shots” on national policies.

The declaration also pushed for the Federal Constitution and this conceptual “core group” to be the cornerstone in the formulating and implementation of all actions, programmes and policies in nation forming, building and development.

“In the context of our country, the public is 67 per cent Bumiputera. So you have to listen to the majority first, only then you consider the other groups. That is how democracy goes,” Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali told reporters.

Besides holding the majority group, Ibrahim claimed the Bumiputera — which includes the Malays, Orang Asli and natives of Sabah and Sarawak — were also the original settlers of the land.

The convention today was organised by a coalition of 58 Malay NGOs, and was attended by over 300 groups, to debate and pass a National Unity Memorandum draft to be delivered to the Malay rulers, Putrajaya, the Cabinet, and every mentri besar or chief ministers.

The memorandum, titled “Malaysian Unity: the Core of National Peace and Prosperity”, covered topics such as economy, law, education and Islam.

“If the majority is not considered and be given a proper place, surely there will be no national unity,” said Ibrahim, who heads the memorandum drafting committee, said earlier.

Vice Admiral (Rtd) Datuk Mat Rabi Abu Samah, a central committee member of Perkasa, insisted that the concept of “core group” is important in order to ensure the security of the nation.

He claimed that the concept is similar to the United Nations Security Council, where the “core group” consists of the five permanent members: China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and United States.

The memorandum, which was tabled and debated in the convention, will also be delivered during the Umno General Assembly, on November 27.

Ibrahim also said that the National Unity Council will be formed consisting of Malay-Muslim groups, which among others will be tasked to present the content of the memorandum to the public.

The Malays and Bumiputera make up the majority of Malaysia’s population at an estimated 67.4 per cent of the 28.3 million population, followed by the Chinese at 24.6 per cent, according to the most recent census at 2010.