Insults Against Islam, Malay Rulers Must Be Handled Firmly - Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 (Bernama) --  Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for insults against Islam and the institution of the Malay Rulers to be dealt with firmly, fairly and wisely, to protect the dignity of the religion, authority of state institutions and the nation's harmony.

He noted that the unease among the Malay community is growing deeper, as the sanctity of Islam and the standing of the Malay Rulers continue to be openly attacked through various issues that stir public sensitivities.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, cited several specific concerns: insults against the word Allah, jokes that mock halal matters, objections to the azan (the Islamic call to prayer), and acts of disrespect toward the institution of the Malay Rulers.

"Islam is the religion of the Federation, and the Malay Rulers are the pillars of national sovereignty. So when these two main pillars are disturbed, the people's anxiety cannot be treated as a small matter," he said in a speech today at the Musyawarah Nasional (National Discourse) themed Malay Unease: What Is the Solution?

The founder of Musyawarah Nasional further stressed that while freedom of speech must continue to be respected, it cannot be used as a pretext to insult religion, belittle the institution of the Malay Rulers, or undermine the very foundations of national harmony.

In light of this, Ahmad Zahid said it is time to review and strengthen the country's existing legal framework to ensure it remains relevant to current challenges.

He added that the unease felt by the Malay community extends beyond religion and royalty, touching on issues of economy, education, national unity and Malay political stability.

On the economic front, he said the Malay community has yet to become strong enough as asset owners, despite making up the largest group of consumers and workers in the country.

"This is no longer just about aid or subsidies. It is about asset ownership, market control, supply chains and access to the future economy," he said.

Turning to education, Ahmad Zahid said serious attention must be given to the mismatch between graduate qualifications and industry needs.

He also called for strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key pathway for social mobility among the younger generation.

"The reality is that about 35.8 per cent, or 1.96 million higher education graduates, are working in semi-skilled or low-skilled jobs that do not match their qualifications.

"This shows that the education issue is no longer just about access to university, but about the alignment between knowledge, skills and industry needs," he highlighted.

Ahmad Zahid also stressed that national unity must be strengthened, following a rise in racial sentiment and prejudice on social media that could erode social harmony.

"This unease is also evident when issues of language, identity and national heritage frequently cause unrest, from debates over heritage food, to national promotional narratives that fail to highlight the Malay-Islamic roots, to the organisation of festivals that lack sensitivity toward local community values," he said.

Furthermore, he said Malay politics must return to the fundamentals of unity, civility and strategy to ensure that the Malay race continues to have the strength to determine the nation's future.

"Malay politics, still trapped by endless grudges, prejudices and power struggles, will only shrink our position in our own arena. The Malays cannot continue to cheer in victory while losing their homeland. 

"Malay politics must return to reason, civility, and strategy, not just to win elections, but to ensure that this race continues to hold the power to decide its own future," he concluded.

-- BERNAMA