Pm Set To Officiate Malay Dignity Congress Next Month

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Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is set to officially launch the Malay Dignity Congress in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur early next month, a gathering held to address the challenges faced by the Malay community
"Yes, he (Mahathir) is going (to be there)," a source within the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) told Malaysiakini when asked to confirm his participation
Event organiser Pusat Kecemerlangan Melayu Akademi Pengajian Melayu Universiti Malaya confirmed that Mahathir would attend and deliver a “mandate”
The centre's director Hashim Ismail, however, said Mahathir would be present "not as PM but as a Malay leader"
The event will be held on Oct 6 at the Axiata Arena Stadium in Bukit Jalil in collaboration with UTM, Universiti Putra Malaysia and the Sultan Idris Education University.The stadium is able to accommodate 16,000 participants
Hashim said the congress will discuss issues involving education, religion, culture, politics and the economy from a Malay perspective
"We will examine, from an academic perspective, issues such as national unity, and Malay rights that are supposedly challenged today," he told Free Malaysia Today
Five resolutions are expected to emerge from the congress including the proposed unification of school systems for the sake of racial integration and the affirmation of Islam as the official religion of the country
Recently, after the formal cooperation charter between Umno and PAS was launched, Umno leaders including its supreme council member Puad Zarkashi had attacked the holding of the congress, claiming it was backed by Mahathir's Bersatu party for political gain
Puad claimed the congress was being held as a response to the Umno and PAS gathering on Sept 14 to formalise their cooperation
Hashim denied the existence of any political elements in the hosting of the congress
The Pakatan Harapan government, which took over the country's administration after 60 years of Umno rule, is often the target of racial and religious accusations by members of the opposition. - Mkini

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