Malay-Muslims' rights assured

Source: NST Online, Local News

Date:2008/03/26

Malay-Muslims' rights assured

IPOH: Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has assured the Malay-Muslims in Perak that the tripartite government of Pas, Keadilan and DAP will respect and protect the community's fundamental beliefs pertaining to Islam, Malay supremacy and the monarchy.
Speaking to a crowd of more than 500 village heads, peng-hulus and district and local council officers here yesterday, the newly-appointed menteri besar urged them to discard any aversion they may have against the new state government just because the majority seats were being held by the DAP."The DAP representatives respect and accept the Malay supremacy, the institution of royalty and the status of Islam which are provided for in the constitution of the state."The establishment of the new state government shows that the 18 DAP state assemblymen have agreed to accept these beliefs," he said, adding that otherwise there would not have been a government of Pas, Keadilan and DAP.He was responding to queries from village heads, largely Umno members, who expressed their worry that the Malay-Muslim rights in the state would be compromised.
Under the proposed line-up DAP has the lion's share of six exco posts while Keadilan and Pas have three and one respectively."The DAP representatives are educated people. They are lawyers, most of them... they know the Perak Constitution well. "No one should be worried because we have agreed that all decisions will be consensus-based, said Nizar.Nizar urged everyone to give the new state government some space and time to carry out its proposed agendas. On the status of village heads and penghulus in Perak, Nizar said they would remain in their positions until Dec 31, adding that they would not be forced to resign.He, however, said the selection of new village heads and penghulus would be carried out democratically beginning next year when village folks would themselves choose their own leaders.