Hisham: Leaders who make racial comments will not last long

UNITED FRONT: Gerakan Youth chief Datuk Mah Siew Keong, Hishammuddin and Koh raising their hands at the confernece in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Young leaders who make racial and religious statements to be popular with a particular community will not go far in a multiracial and multicultural Malaysia, said Barisan Nasional Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

Anyone could make popular statements to gain popularity from a particular race or to gain support from their delegates, but their popularity would be short-lived, he said.

“They must be far-sighted because when it is time for them to be selected as ministers or party presidents, they must not only be smart, they have to be wise too,” he said.

He noted that the top leadership was mature enough to know who was sincere, honest and had held to the Barisan principle of multiracialism.

“The top leadership will not forget – and in a multiracial Malaysia the people will also not forget – those who have taken advantage to be popular for short-term gains,” he said after attending the opening of the 19th Gerakan Youth and Wanita national delegates conference yesterday.

Hishammuddin, who is also Education Minister, said the top leadership would not select those who fought for only one race.

“Their future will be tainted, and that applies to all young leaders who have aspirations to be national leaders,” he said.

Regarding the ongoing unhappiness over the statement made by his deputy Khairy Jamaluddin, who had reportedly said other communities would take advantage of the situation by making demands if Umno was weak, Hishammuddin said: “When the temperature lowers, it is incumbent for my deputy to explain the misunderstanding.”

No one should exploit or gain from cheap publicity, he added.