Nik Aziz: Drop bumi term when asking for govt aid

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KOTA BARU: Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is against the use of the "bumiputera" term when applying for government assistance.

He said the term not only smacked of racism, but also deprived other races, who share similar rights and possess similar identity cards, of the facility.

"In an election, other races are allowed to cast one vote, so are the bumiputera," he said in response to a remark last week by the Opposition chief in the Johore state assembly, Dr Boo Cheng Hau (DAP-Skudai) who likened the bumiputera policy in the country with that of apartheid in South Africa.

Nik Abdul Aziz said the government should form a body to manage aid for the poor in the country and not cater only for a single group known as the bumiputera.

"I don't like the (use of the) word bumiputera. What I like is (use of the word) poor, for all races," he added.

He said the poor, regardless of their race, should be given assistance. - Bernama


Source from: the staronline


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