KUALA LUMPUR — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for insults directed at Islam and the institution of the Malay Rulers to be addressed firmly, fairly and wisely to safeguard the dignity of the religion, the authority of state institutions, and national harmony.
He noted that concerns within the Malay community are deepening as the sanctity of Islam and the position of the Malay Rulers face open attacks through issues that stir public sensitivities.
Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as Minister of Rural and Regional Development, pointed to several specific instances: insults against the word Allah, jokes mocking halal practices, objections to the azan (Islamic call to prayer), and acts of disrespect toward the Malay Rulers.
“Islam is the religion of the Federation, and the Malay Rulers are the pillars of national sovereignty. So when these two main pillars are disturbed, the people’s anxiety cannot be treated as a small matter,” he said in a speech at the Musyawarah Nasional (National Discourse) themed Malay Unease: What Is the Solution?
The founder of Musyawarah Nasional emphasised that freedom of speech must be respected but should not be used to insult religion, belittle the Malay Rulers, or undermine the foundations of national harmony.
In this context, Ahmad Zahid said it is time to review and strengthen Malaysia’s legal framework to ensure it remains relevant to current challenges.
He added that Malay unease extends beyond religion and royalty, encompassing economic, educational, national unity, and political concerns.
On the economic front, he said the Malay community has yet to achieve sufficient asset ownership despite being the largest consumer and workforce group.
“This is no longer just about aid or subsidies. It is about asset ownership, market control, supply chains and access to the future economy,” he explained.
Addressing education, Ahmad Zahid highlighted the mismatch between graduate qualifications and industry needs. He also called for a stronger focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a vital avenue for social mobility.
“The reality is that about 35.8 per cent, or 1.96 million higher education graduates, are working in semi-skilled or low-skilled jobs that do not match their qualifications. This shows that the education issue is no longer just about access to university, but about the alignment between knowledge, skills and industry needs,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of national unity, warning that rising racial sentiment and prejudice on social media could threaten social harmony.
“This unease is also evident when issues of language, identity and national heritage frequently cause unrest, from debates over heritage food, to national promotional narratives that fail to highlight the Malay-Islamic roots, to the organisation of festivals that lack sensitivity toward local community values,” he said.
Furthermore, Ahmad Zahid urged Malay politics to return to unity, civility and strategic thinking to maintain the community’s influence in shaping the nation’s future.
“Malay politics, still trapped by endless grudges, prejudices and power struggles, will only shrink our position in our own arena. The Malays cannot continue to cheer in victory while losing their homeland. Malay politics must return to reason, civility, and strategy, not just to win elections, but to ensure that this race continues to hold the power to decide its own future,” he concluded. – May 10, 2026