'Lost in translation', Wan Fayhsal says on ‘neo-feudal’ term
SHAH ALAM - Being a neo-feudal society should not be linked to something bad or negative as it is a term to describe a society that holds to its culture and traditions, said Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal after his controversial remarks that Malays need leaders to protect their rights and interest.
He said he was merely stating facts in regards to Malaysian society and its mindset.
Wan Faysal admitted to using the term ‘neo-feudal’ in a media report but claimed that the ‘real comment’ was buried in the story.
“This is the problem with headlines, my real comment was lost in translation.
“What I’m trying to say is this - in Malay politics, people from the east especially, do not fully hold or prescribe to liberal society but instead hold on to religion or nationality,” he told Sinar Daily.
He said the Malays do understand universal and policy issues such as minimum wage and employment but at the same time, ‘far in their unconscious mind’ they were still governed by the mindset ‘to be led by their own people'.
According to the Deputy National Unity Minister, ‘their own people here, based on the Malay community’s ‘unconscious mind’ has the ability to protect their rights and best interest, not only in terms of life and economy, including racial majority as Muslims.
However, he said the problem with the neo-feudal system was that leaders betray the mandate trusted upon them, citing Umno as a prime example.
“The fact that this still exists shows that identity politics is very much alive.
“The Ketuanan Melayu is still going strong in the Malay communities,” he said.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said the mindset or belief was the reason why the Malays were not comfortable with the Pakatan Harapan government as they were not seen protecting the Malay rights.
“Identity politics exist and it’s just the same for other races,” he said, citing DAP as the ‘protector’ of the Chinese.
He has since stated that he does not support or believe in the neo-feudal system.
Several politicians have slammed Wan Faysal over his "neo-feudal" statement in The Vibes including former Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa who on Twitter said that he prayed that Wan Fayhsal opens his heart and accepts the fact that the Malays need leaders with integrity.
He added that the Malays were ready for such leadership in 2018 but a ‘bunch of corrupt leaders’ who they sought refuge before had come back to power.
“Thanks to you,” he said blaming Wan Fayhsal for it.
DAP’s Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming said the feudal and regressive mindset was one of the reasons why the Malays were being marginalised while the big cronies with cable were filthy rich.
“It is shocking when you see Bersatu’s politics trying to insult the Malays,” he said in a post on Twitter.
Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim meanwhile kept it simple, agreeing to the statement.
“Yes because Malay leaders do not know anything better to garner support,
Muda President Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has also come out against his former Armada deputy, stating that this was an outdated view that was no longer relevant to today’s politics.
He said the ‘protector’ approach was a common tactic among the older politicians to seek support from the majority of Bumiputeras, who account for over 60 per cent of Malaysia’s 32 million population.
