Apology Over Kris Won't Derogate Malay Dignity, Says Najib

keris is outdated






PEKAN, April 26 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein's apology over the "kris issue" will not derogate from the Malays' dignity because kris is a mere symbol, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Saturday.
The dignity of the Malays would only remain redeemed if they were successful in strategic fields to continue to compete with other races, said the deputy prime minister who is also Umno deputy president.
"I hope the issue will not crop up again. Datuk Seri Hishammuddin has done a very solicitious and noble act, meaning he is ready to seek apology though some people say it was not his intention to declare war or has a conviction in any racist move," he told reporters here today.
He was commenting on the Umno Youth head's apology for drawing and kissing a kris at the last Umno Youth assembly which was said to be among the factors to Barisan Nasional's dismal performance in last month's general election.
Najib said: "Kris is a weapon in the context of our culture, not more than that. But because there are people playing up the issue, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin's move, I hope, will be accepted as something positive, sincere and noble so that the issue will not crop up again."
"The dignity of the Malays has nothing to do with kris. The dignity of the Malays will be redeemed if the Malays succeed in various fields -- politics, mastery of knowledge, economy and social.
"Everything must point to the Malays' development being at the level of excellence; we can compete not only at home but also internationally. At that time, the Malays will been seen as a successful race.
"So, the kris is a mere symbol and not linked to excellence. Excellence in the real world depends on our success in strategic fields," he said.
Earlier, Najib launched a programme at the Al-Taqwa Mosque. Present were Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Noraini Ahmad.


In IPOH, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu described Hishammuddin’s open apology to all Malaysians if the kris issue had nudged their sentiments, as gentlemanly and befitting a good young leader.
It was also in line with the principle put forward by famous author Dale Carnegie in one of his well-known books, "How to Win Friends and Influence People", he said.
"He is a gentleman, a good young leader. He follows the principle of Dane Carnegie who said that 'if you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically' but I must say Datuk Seri Hishammuddin is an effective and very good leader.
"Without him, I don't think today we would have built 41 Tamil schools in one go. This was the money that he gave when I was Minister for Works," he told reporters at the Evertronics Skill Development Centre in Wisma Wan Mohammad. Samy Vellu said all parties should now respect the appeal for apology and not to raise the issue again.
"When somebody say I am sorry we should just keep quite after that, we should not talk anything further. If we talk further, we don't respect the apology," he said.
When asked to comment on Hishammuddin who is Education Minister, offering the apology only now, Samy Vellu said: "Never mind. You see, after the Second World War after the death of so many million people, the Emperor of Japan said 'I am sorry'. What is wrong if Hishammuddin said it after six months or 12 months or 15 months. He has said it, that is more important".
Meanwhile, he said the MIC would submit a request to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib for additional allocations to train Indian youths under the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP)
The government, through the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, had approved RM6 million to train 1,000 Indian youths under the 9MP. "I will ask for another RM6 million so that by the end of the 9MP, we can have at least 2,000 youths fully trained to serve the country," Samy Vellu said.

tunku : i think we should just leave the keris issue as it is. it was not the main factor for bn/umno bad result.hisham is going for vp post so need some rebranding to do. the main factor is with the top leadership which need changes and alteration. as for samy, i thought couple of week ago he said government did nothing and he's going oversea to ask for fund, why asking 6million now? samy is all out to be hero but sometimes doesn't use his brain.