KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- Penang''s
Malay community is in need of a transformation to ensure they can compete in the
open market, said Penang Malay Association (Pemenang) vice-president Datuk Abdul
Rashid Ismail.
He emphasised the importance of self-esteem and character among Malays so
they are not regarded as a community that could easily be suppressed.
He said Malay academicians who originated from Penang have not returned to
help the state''s Malay community.
"We don''t have our full academic potential, so efforts and changes are
needed by starting with correcting the character of our Malay people before we
can hope for help from others," he said during an interview with Bernama
Radio24''s ''Dalam Radar'' programme.
On the issue of Malays in Penang who were said to have moved to other states
due to high costs of living, Abdul Rashid said they were in no way forced to do
so.
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MALAY-PENANG 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
However, he did not deny the possibility that they may have moved for
comfort.
He said the main problem in Penang were restraints in setting up a special
settlement for Malays, and also because Malays owned only a small portion of
land.
Abdul Rashid said political issues should not crop up and hoped third
parties such as cooperatives, including the Penang Malay cooperative, would play
a role in resolving the matter.
-- BERNAMA
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