Najib Defends “Red Shirts” Rally And Says UMNO Has Never Played The Racial Card

Following all the criticisms on the recently held "red shirts" rally, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has asserted that the rally was merely to show support for the ruling government.

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Cover ImageCover image via Malaysiakini

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has claimed that UMNO is "not a racist party"

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the new UMNO building launch in Muar, yesterday.

Image via The Rakyat Post

The Prime Minister, who was in the royal town to launch the new UMNO Muar division building, also stressed on his previous pro-"red shirts" rally statements, reiterating that the protest was a peaceful, non-racist one

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak

Image via The Guardian

"Maruah Melayu Jangan Dicabar" (Do Not Challenge The Malays' Dignity)

Image via Malaysiakini/Facebook

"Malaysia Melayu Punya" (Malaysia Belongs To The Malays"

Image via Malaysiakini/Facebook

"Pertahankan Hak Melayu" (Defend The Malays' Rights"

Image via Malaysiakini/Facebook

Apart from championing the peaceful "red shirts" rally, the prime minister has also openly declared that UMNO has always been keen on working together with other races and parties

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak

Image via The Malaysian Insider

In the midst of talking about working together with other races, Najib reminded Malaysians that there were "no bloody keris (dagger)" at the "red shirts" rally

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak

Image via ABC News

Summing up his speech while officiating the new UMNO building in Muar, Najib urged the people to support the biggest party in the ruling coalition, equating the people's success as a direct result of the party's hard work

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak

Image via The Wall Street Journal

Prior to the launch, Najib attended a one-hour meeting with the Sultan of Johor at Istana Bukit Serene

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak met Johor Sultan, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and the crown prince, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim at Istana Bukit Serene yesterday.

Image via The Malaysian Insider

The recent months have seen the Johor royalty, especially the Sultan and the crown prince, being very forthright and critical on their views about the Malaysian politics

Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and the crown prince, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim

Image via The Star

Tuanku Mahkota Johor vehemently criticised PM Najib Razak when he flaked out of a 1MDB dialogue titled 'Nothing2Hide' in June due to security reasons

DYAM Brigadier Jeneral Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Mahkota Johor Facebook posting chiding Prime Minister Najib Razak for not attending the 1MDB dialogue, dated 5 June 2015.

Image via JOHOR Southern Tigers

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz came to Najib's defense, warning the crown prince to "stay out of politics" or else he will be "whacked"

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz

Image via The Malaysian Insider

Nazri's statements and warnings to the Tunku Mahkota Johor led to him being [probed](http://says.com/my/news/things-nazri-has-to-say-to-ordinary-citizen-dr-m-and-the-crown-prince-of-johor) under the Sedition Act.

The debacle ended with Tuanku Mahkota Johor's silent response to Nazri's warnings in a video posted on the Johor Souther Tigers' Facebook page

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim

Image via Straits Times

Meanwhile, following the controversial "red shirts" rally that UMNO has openly supported, the Johor Sultan issued a warning to all racists, stressing that there is no room for racism in his state

Sultan Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar

Image via Siakap Keli

However, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid has defended the "red shirts" rally by saying that the Malays "have been pushed against the wall" after the Bersih 4.0 rally

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid

Image via The Malaysian Insider

Citing recent events, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan has urged Malaysians to be grateful for being able to live in peaceful, war-free conditions

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan

Image via Malay Mail Online

Malaysia has been under a great deal of unrest lately. The racially slanted, "red shirts" rally that was held on Malaysia Day saw a great deal of racial issues being invoked:

However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been stressing that the rally was peaceful and that Malays must be respected by all:

Meanwhile, UMNO Supreme Council member Tan Sri Annuar Musa has openly declared that he "is a racist"

Malaysian politicians say a lot of things, some of which are very memorable quotes. Give this quiz a shot to test your memory:

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