Umno invited to debate on Malay rights - NST

BUTTERWORTH: Parti Keadilan Rakyat has invited Umno to a debate on the economic standing of the Malays in Penang.

Penang PKR Youth chief Dr Azhar Ahmad said the party was willing to have a debate on the issue and to brief state Umno leaders on PKR's National Economic Agenda (NEA).

"We welcome Umno's right to express its views through the democratic process, but we also urge them to a debate on a common platform with us on the issue.

"We are not challenging them but rather we want to combine any ideas they have with ours for the betterment of the people and also for nation building."

Azhar said only a selected few had benefitted from the New Economic Policy which expired in 1990. He added that the NEP was found to be the cause of corruption, cronyism and nepotism.

"We are sure the NEA, if implemented, will benefit all races. The Malays do not have to worry about their economic status as it is already enshrined in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

"Article 153 of the Constitution states the special rights of the Malays," he said.

He was speaking at the state PKR secretariat at Taman Kelasah in Seberang Jaya here yesterday.

[From http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/2191459/Article/index_html]