Hasnoor Hussein
Encyclopedia
Hasnoor Sidang Hussein is a Malaysian politician
from the ruling United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO). He became prominent in 2006 for his controversial remarks at the UMNO Annual General Assembly as a delegate from Malacca
on the subject of racial issues. He later became the first, together with Azimi Daim
and Hashim Suboh
, to be officially reprimanded by UMNO for a speech made at an UMNO Annual General Assembly.
and other members of the bumiputra
(indigenous people) ethnic majority, stating: "If they (non-Malays) question our rights, then we should question theirs. So far we have not heard the Malays questioning their right to citizenship when they came in droves from other countries."
The most controversial of his remarks, however, was his declaration that "Umno is willing to risk lives and bathe in blood to defend the race and religion (Islam
, the official religion of Malaysia and of the Malays). Don't play with fire. If they (non-Malays) mess with our rights, we will mess with theirs." Hasnoor's remarks formed one third of the three disputed speeches made; another one was that by UMNO Youth Information Chief Azimi Daim
, who said "when tension rises, the blood of Malay warriors will run in our veins", while the third was made by a delegate from Perak
, Hashim Suboh
, who referred to UMNO Youth Chief and Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein
's act of brandishing the kris
(Malay dagger): "Datuk Hisham has unsheathed his keris, waved his keris, kissed his keris. We want to ask Datuk Hisham when is he going to use it." As a result of the controversy, UMNO Deputy President and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
announced that "we are seriously looking into the wisdom of having (a) live telecast" of the proceedings.
The speeches later became the subject of a debate in Parliament
. Leader of the Opposition, Lim Kit Siang from the Democratic Action Party
(DAP), said that "The speeches have upset non-Malays and they are feeling insecure. It is sad that Malay leaders can still speak like this 50 years after independence. We feel excluded and threatened." He filed a motion to have the Dewan Rakyat
(the lower house of Parliament) consider the subject of the speeches, but it was rejected by the Speaker
. Another lawmaker from the DAP, Karpal Singh
, accused Hasnoor and the other delegates of having committed sedition
, which under the Sedition Act
is a crime in Malaysia. Lim Keng Yaik
, President of the Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Malaysian People's Movement), a major party in the ruling Barisan Nasional
coalition government led by UMNO, also expressed worry about "where these sentiments will lead to". Najib responded that "Some inexperienced speakers got carried away," and assured them that "We reject such sentiments ... this is not official policy." He also stated that the speakers were being investigated by the Police
for the crime of sedition.
Soon after, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
, President of UMNO and the Prime Minister
, announced that three unidentified speakers at the assembly had been officially reprimanded for their statements. In Singapore
, the Straits Times described this as "the first time that Umno has taken action based on police reports and complaints by the opposition and non-Malay communities over the years on the same issue."Hong, Carolyn (Dec. 2, 2006). Umno reprimands Youth wing leaders for speeches on race. Malaysia Today. The following day, the UMNO-owned English
daily, the New Straits Times
, identified the three speakers as Hasnoor, Azimi and Hashim. Hasnoor said he "told the party leadership that I was sorry for what I had said. It was not my intention to touch on racial sensitivities and to hurt the feelings of the other races." He also suggested that the proceedings of UMNO assemblies not be carried live in the future.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the ruling United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
(UMNO). He became prominent in 2006 for his controversial remarks at the UMNO Annual General Assembly as a delegate from Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
on the subject of racial issues. He later became the first, together with Azimi Daim
Azimi Daim
Azimi Daim is a Malaysian politician and Information Chief of the Youth wing of the United Malays National Organisation . In 2006, together with Hashim Suboh and Hasnoor Hussein, he was officially reprimanded by UMNO for stating that "when tension rises, the blood of Malay warriors will run in our...
and Hashim Suboh
Hashim Suboh
Datuk Hashim Suboh is a Malaysian politician from the United Malays National Organisation , the leading party of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. He is the Deputy Chief of the party's Kangar division...
, to be officially reprimanded by UMNO for a speech made at an UMNO Annual General Assembly.
Controversy
The 2006 UMNO Annual General Assembly was the first ever to be telecast live. Hasnoor was among the delegates permitted to address the assembly, and like all others, his speech was carried live. In the course of his remarks, Hasnoor stated that non-Malay citizens needed to be grateful for having been granted citizenship at independence under the Malaysian social contract. He also spoke out against the non-Malays who were critical of the special position of the MalaysMalay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
and other members of the bumiputra
Bumiputra
Bumiputera or Bumiputra is a Malay term widely used in Malaysia, embracing indigenous people of the Malay Archipelago. The term comes from the Sanskrit word bhumiputra, which can be translated literally as "son of land"...
(indigenous people) ethnic majority, stating: "If they (non-Malays) question our rights, then we should question theirs. So far we have not heard the Malays questioning their right to citizenship when they came in droves from other countries."
The most controversial of his remarks, however, was his declaration that "Umno is willing to risk lives and bathe in blood to defend the race and religion (Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, the official religion of Malaysia and of the Malays). Don't play with fire. If they (non-Malays) mess with our rights, we will mess with theirs." Hasnoor's remarks formed one third of the three disputed speeches made; another one was that by UMNO Youth Information Chief Azimi Daim
Azimi Daim
Azimi Daim is a Malaysian politician and Information Chief of the Youth wing of the United Malays National Organisation . In 2006, together with Hashim Suboh and Hasnoor Hussein, he was officially reprimanded by UMNO for stating that "when tension rises, the blood of Malay warriors will run in our...
, who said "when tension rises, the blood of Malay warriors will run in our veins", while the third was made by a delegate from Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
, Hashim Suboh
Hashim Suboh
Datuk Hashim Suboh is a Malaysian politician from the United Malays National Organisation , the leading party of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. He is the Deputy Chief of the party's Kangar division...
, who referred to UMNO Youth Chief and Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein
Hishammuddin Hussein
Datuk Seri Panglima Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein is a Malaysian politician and member of the United Malays National Organisation . He is the current Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs. He is the former Minister of Education, having served from 2004 to 2009. He has been mentioned as a likely...
's act of brandishing the kris
Kris
The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger or sword nowadays most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade , but many have...
(Malay dagger): "Datuk Hisham has unsheathed his keris, waved his keris, kissed his keris. We want to ask Datuk Hisham when is he going to use it." As a result of the controversy, UMNO Deputy President and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
Najib Tun Razak
Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth, and since 2009, Prime Minister of Malaysia. He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from 7 January 2004 until he succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister on 3 April 2009. Najib is President of the United...
announced that "we are seriously looking into the wisdom of having (a) live telecast" of the proceedings.
The speeches later became the subject of a debate in Parliament
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
. Leader of the Opposition, Lim Kit Siang from the Democratic Action Party
Democratic Action Party
The Democratic Action Party, or DAP is a secular, multi-racial, social democratic Malaysian political party.The DAP is one of the three major opposition parties in Malaysia, along with the PKR and PAS, that are seen as electable alternatives to the Barisan Nasional coalition of parties...
(DAP), said that "The speeches have upset non-Malays and they are feeling insecure. It is sad that Malay leaders can still speak like this 50 years after independence. We feel excluded and threatened." He filed a motion to have the Dewan Rakyat
Dewan Rakyat
The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. All bills must usually be passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara , before they are given Royal Assent by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...
(the lower house of Parliament) consider the subject of the speeches, but it was rejected by the Speaker
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
The Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat is the presiding officer of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. He is responsible for convening sessions of the Dewan Rakyat, organising debates, and examining the admissibility of petitions, bills and amendments.In the absence of the...
. Another lawmaker from the DAP, Karpal Singh
Karpal Singh
Karpal Singh is a Malaysian lawyer and politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for the neighbourhood of Bukit Gelugor in the state of Penang since 2004...
, accused Hasnoor and the other delegates of having committed sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
, which under the Sedition Act
Sedition Act (Malaysia)
The Sedition Act in Malaysia is a law prohibiting discourse deemed as seditious. The act was originally enacted by the colonial authorities of British Malaya in 1948...
is a crime in Malaysia. Lim Keng Yaik
Lim Keng Yaik
Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik is a former Malaysian politician and former Minister of Energy, Water and Communications in the Malaysian cabinet. He was the national president of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia from 1980 until stepping down on April 8, 2007 to pave the way for Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon...
, President of the Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Malaysian People's Movement), a major party in the ruling Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
coalition government led by UMNO, also expressed worry about "where these sentiments will lead to". Najib responded that "Some inexperienced speakers got carried away," and assured them that "We reject such sentiments ... this is not official policy." He also stated that the speakers were being investigated by the Police
Royal Malaysian Police
The Royal Malaysia Police is a part of the security forces structure in Malaysia. The force is a centralised organization with responsibilities ranging from traffic control to intelligence gathering. Its headquarters is located at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur. The police force is led by an...
for the crime of sedition.
Soon after, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
, President of UMNO and the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
, announced that three unidentified speakers at the assembly had been officially reprimanded for their statements. In Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, the Straits Times described this as "the first time that Umno has taken action based on police reports and complaints by the opposition and non-Malay communities over the years on the same issue."Hong, Carolyn (Dec. 2, 2006). Umno reprimands Youth wing leaders for speeches on race. Malaysia Today. The following day, the UMNO-owned English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
daily, the New Straits Times
New Straits Times
The New Straits Times is an English-language newspaper published in Malaysia. It is Malaysia's oldest newspaper still in print , having been founded as The Straits Times in 1845, and was reestablished as the "New Straits Times" in 1965. The paper served as Malaysia's only broadsheet format English...
, identified the three speakers as Hasnoor, Azimi and Hashim. Hasnoor said he "told the party leadership that I was sorry for what I had said. It was not my intention to touch on racial sensitivities and to hurt the feelings of the other races." He also suggested that the proceedings of UMNO assemblies not be carried live in the future.