Mat Taib : some of us were arrogant
Malaysiakini.com
Apr 12, 2008

A senior Umno leader has conceded that the arrogance of some Umno leaders was to be blamed for the BN’s poor performance in the March 8 polls. MCPX

Feeling comfortable and arrogance by some Umno leaders after BN’s resounding victory in the 2004 general election sent the wrong message to the other races, said Umno information chief Muhd Muhammad Taib.

"Knowingly or unknowingly, some of the decisions made by Umno leaders had hurt the feelings of other races, especially the Chinese and Indians, in Peninsular Malaysia.

"Some of our Umno leaders, whenever they speak, focus only on issues pertaining to the Malays, tenders for the Malays and brandishing the kris (Malay dagger). When the other races see this, they get scared.

mat taib"To them, we appear as arrogant," Bernama quoted Mat Taib as saying at an information and dialogue session with Petaling Jaya Selatan Umno division members last night.

Uneasy relations

He said when a sensitive issue was politicised, it created uneasiness in inter-racial relations, making other races to easily sway to the opposition, which is seen to be more liberal in their inter-racial relations despite having a vague agenda.

"The situation is compounded when the Malays themselves did not lend their full support to the BN, particularly in Malay-majority seats," said the Rural and Regional Development Minister.

He said Umno leaders must re-examine their political approach and be more sensitive to issues which could create racial tension.

"Although Malaysia can be regarded as a Malay-majority nation, Umno leaders had no right to talk and act according to their whims and fancy, without taking the feelings and interests of the other races into consideration," Mat Taib added.

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