By Sofia Nasir
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — The Malay-Muslim community in the country can create a better future for themselves through good manners and by honing their knowledge and talent, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said it is high time that this group rises with confidence and no longer lives with feelings of suspicion or oppression.
“If we want to strengthen Islam and the Malays, we need to consider what kind of Malay we want to be. Do we want to adopt the approach of oppressed Malays who are full of suspicion, even though we are the majority?
“If we want to rise, we need to present the Malays as confident. This confidence should not stem from power or fear imposed on others, but from confidence in our knowledge, abilities and manners,” he said.
Amirudin said this in his welcoming speech at the Pondok Siayasah 2024 dialogue session, here, last night, which was also attended by Merdeka Centre executive director Ibrahim Suffian.
The programme organised by Team Selangor was attended by 60 youths, including 20 Pondok Siayasah participants comprising university students from Selangor and youths interested in Islamic political discourse.
In his speech, Amirudin also advised the youth and Malays in general not to get entrapped with superficial and shallow interpretations and viewpoints when discussing about Islam, the country, leadership and politics.
The Gombak MP added that the administration and management of a government must be evaluated based on the priorities of the community, regardless of background.
“These are among the things we need to understand, whether Islamic politics and values are genuine or merely rhetoric. With Islamic values, we can understand the priorities, rather than just viewing them as mere images.
“For example, the issue of labelling others as infidels is a divisive form of politics. This differs from the principles of Prophet Muhammad, who united all religions and races in Madinah through a charter,” he said.
