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SHAH ALAM – Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has sparked a political storm after remarks on race made while campaigning for the Negeri Sembilan state election. Here is what he said and how it has unfolded.
What did Sanusi say?
Speaking at a ceramah in Jempol on Thursday night, the Kedah Menteri Besar claimed that Malays have no homeland other than Malaysia, while other communities have ancestral countries elsewhere.
"The Malays no longer have land. The Malays only have this Tanah Melayu (Malay Land). Indians have India, Chinese have China, Cambodians have Cambodia, Siamese have Thailand.
"Where are the Malays? The Malays are only here," he allegedly said, addressing a crowd of more than 300 people.
He also claimed that the political power and economic foothold of the Malays are deteriorating rapidly and risk being completely lost within a decade unless drastic changes are made, and likened Malay leaders in government to the traitorous character "Buang" from the classic film Sarjan Hassan.
Why has it drawn criticism?
Several leaders across the political divide said the remarks risk undermining the idea of a shared Malaysian identity and questioning the loyalty of citizens based on ethnicity.
Kota Kemuning assemblyman Preakas Sampunathan said the statement was disappointing and out of touch with the reality of a country built by people of different backgrounds.
"Chinese Malaysians are not guests in this country. Indian Malaysians are not outsiders. They are Malaysians," he said.
He added that generations of Malaysians of Chinese and Indian heritage had contributed to the country's development in business, public service, education, the economy and national defence.
“The issue is not where someone's ancestors came from. The issue is that they are Malaysians who were born here, raised here, built their lives here and contributed to this country," he added.
DAP national vice-chairman Syahredzan Johan said the remarks were proof of the "true face of toxic politics" promoted by Pas.
"Malaysians only have Malaysia, our motherland, our homeland. Whatever the skin colour, race, or ethnicity, the Federal Constitution guarantees the rights and interests of all Malaysians.
"Politics like this must be rejected. This is the true face of Pas. Bringing toxic politics, politics of division, extreme racial politics," he wrote on social media.
Kampar MP Chong Zhemin accused Sanusi of using race relations as an election strategy and warned that such rhetoric could foster hostility between communities and threaten national harmony.
"He is taking Malaysian politics in a highly dangerous direction by dividing citizens between those he claims have only one country and those portrayed as having another country elsewhere," Chong said.
"We are not citizens of China or India. We are citizens of Malaysia. We have only one country, live under one Jalur Gemilang and pledge our loyalty to Malaysia alone.
"Our ancestors helped build this nation. Generation after generation has worked, paid taxes, served society, and defended Malaysia's interests," he added.
Chong also called on Sanusi to withdraw his remarks and apologise and pressed Barisan Nasional component parties MCA and MIC to clarify their stand, noting the remarks were allegedly made at a joint BN-PN rally.
Separately, DAP Legal Bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh urged MCA and MIC to publicly state their position on Pas following Sanusi’s remarks, saying both parties should clarify whether they were prepared to remain with BN if Pas continued to stand by such rhetoric.
He said the remarks were not only insensitive towards non-Malay communities but also reflected a lack of respect for the spirit of mutual understanding that Malaysia had long fostered.
“Such racially charged rhetoric should be condemned in the strongest terms, as it has no place in a multiracial and multicultural nation.
“If left unchecked, it has the potential to fuel racial tensions in the country,” he said.
What have government leaders said?
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said no leader should belittle or sideline the role of any race in the country.
"I do not agree at all with any notion that belittles or sidelines the role of any race in our country.
"Our country has been independent for more than 50 years. I do not think any leader in a position of responsibility should be making such statements, as they belittle the presence of other races," he said, when met at the launch of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Sheikh Tahir Jalaluddin and the Nuqaba Programme today.
He added that Malaysia was built on unity among people of different backgrounds who accepted the Federal Constitution.
Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said political leaders should avoid touching on ethnicity, religion or culture and suggested Sanusi's remarks may have been more suited to his home state of Kedah than to Negeri Sembilan.
"His remarks may only be suitable for the people of Kedah. Although he may have a tiger in his chest, what comes out of his mouth is more fitting of a goat.
"There is no need to touch on such matters. If they wish to build friendship, do so in a way that fosters friendship, not by touching on other issues," the deputy prime minister added, urging Sanusi to focus his remaining days of campaigning on Kedah instead.
Has Sanusi responded?
As at the time of writing, Sanusi has not issued a public response to the criticism.
