Published: Sunday November 30, 2008 MYT 6:24:00 PM
Updated: Sunday November 30, 2008 MYT 7:27:34 PM
Use ‘special position’ instead of ‘ketuanan Melayu’: Koh Tsu Koon
GEORGE TOWN: Use the term “special position” instead of ketuanan Melayu, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon urged.
“The term ketuanan Melayu would give rise to a tuan and hamba (master and slave) situation so let’s use the proper term as provided for in the Federal Constitution.
“Article 153 safeguards the special position of the Malays and natives, the Rulers and Islam as well as protects the legitimate interests of non-Malays.
“We must understand the Federal Constitution, parliamentary democracy system and constitutional monarchy in totality.
“The needs of rakyat Malaysia must come first especially in light of global challenges,” he said after opening the party’s life member council meeting on Sunday.
He earlier announced that the party’s central working committee (CWC) was appointed on Saturday during the central committee’s (CC) second meeting.
“CC member and Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay was appointed party vice-president to replace Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam who passed away recently,” he added.
Members of the 2008-2011 CWC are Dr Koh, Perak Gerakan chief Datuk Chang Ko Youn; secretary general Teng Chang Yeow; Kelantan state chairman Datuk Ng Chiang Chin; vice-presidents Datuk Mah Siew Keong, Huan Cheng Guan, Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye and Kohilan; Wanita chief Tan Lian Hoe and youth chief Lim Si Pin.
Dr Koh said Datuk Gooi Hoe Hin has been appointed as National Delegates Conference (NDC) Deputy Speaker while Datuk Lim Kheng Guan and Dr Asharuddin Ahmad were sworn in as CC members.
Party adviser Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik was elected Gerakan immovable property committee chairman.
Dr Koh also noted that the party’s various central bureaux were “revamped and rejuvenated” to better articulate the party’s stand and deal more effectively with identified major areas and issues of public concern.
“We now have 11 including the new Legislature Liaison; Government Administrative Affairs; Environment, Safety and Quality of Life; and Public Health and Social Development bureaux.
“Our main focus now is the economy. We have targeted several groups including the poor and SMIs to see how we can help.
“The average Malaysian worker’s welfare is our priority,” he said, before calling on the government to revise the existing poverty line.
“This should be done every six months because more people are getting poorer due to falling purchasing power.
“Because we have liquidity and strong fundamentals, Malaysia survived the first financial tsunami although many countries like the US and UK were badly effected.
“However, we must now prepare for the second and third wave which is the drop in demand for our exports,” he said.
source: http://thestar.com.my/news/nation/
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