KUALA LUMPUR: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said yesterday his recent comments on Malay leadership in the government had been distorted to make it seem as if he was questioning Malay rights and privileges.

He said when he spoke about this in his speech during a function last Friday, he was not challenging the special privileges of the Malay rulers, Bumiputera rights and Bahasa Malaysia, but rather on the use of the phrase "ketuanan Melayu" (Malay supremacy).

"All I said was that under the Barisan Nasional power-sharing concept, we accept Malay leadership but not ketuanan Melayu.

"I did not question the rights of the Malay rulers, the Bumiputeras and Bahasa Malaysia as the national language, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

"But certain quarters exploited the issue by taking my speech out of context as if I am questioning these rights," he told a press conference at the MCA headquarters.
Dr Chua added that by extending the "ketuanan Melayu" phrase to all aspects of Malay rights within the power-sharing concept of the BN, it gave the impression that BN component parties were servants of Umno, which dominates the ruling coalition.

"I called for a change in the concept of power-sharing in the BN as the component parties champion the rights of all races.

"This is important under the two-party system for us to be competitive. But certain quarters distorted my speech for personal gain."

He added that during the March 8 general election, the opposition stirred fire by telling non-Malays in the campaign that voting for the BN was like supporting ketuanan Melayu.

"This brought confusion and we had great difficulty explaining the true picture to our supporters.

On Sunday, the Young Malay Graduates Movement demanded Dr Chua pay RM2 million in compensation for allegedly questioning the special position of the Malays.

Jerlun member of parliament Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir also on Sunday accused Dr Chua of trying to be a hero by challenging Malay rights.

"There is no reason for me to attempt to be a hero as the MCA polls are over. In fact, my detractors are the ones who will be facing their party elections."

He called on all concerned to read his actual speech in full and dismiss the unfounded allegations.

Asked if he was contemplating legal action, Dr Chua said he could not stop anyone from criticising him.

On the call by Mukhriz for vernacular schools in its current format to be abolished, Dr Chua said the Federal Constitution guaranteed the people the freedom to pursue their mother tongue and freedom of choice in education, just like in practising one's own religion, culture and tradition.

"It will not make one less Malaysian if we did so," he said.