Hashim Suboh
Encyclopedia
Datuk
Hashim Suboh is a Malaysian politician
from the United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO), the leading party of the ruling Barisan Nasional
coalition. He is the Deputy Chief of the party's Kangar
division. Hashim made headlines in Malaysia in 2006 when he made a number of controversial remarks at the UMNO General Assembly that some labeled as seditious
.
brandished a kris
(Malay dagger) at the UMNO General Assembly. The kris, named Panca Warisan, made another appearance at the 2006 General Assembly. On both occasions, it had been used in the context of defending certain special privileges accorded to the Malays
under the Constitution of Malaysia
. These privileges, sometimes referred to as the Malay Agenda
, formed half of the Malaysian social contract, which granted citizenship to non-Malay Malaysians in return for special rights for the Malays. (Such special rights feature heavily in the ideal of ketuanan Melayu
or Malay supremacy, which is a feature of UMNO's ideology.)
It was after the second instance of Hishammuddin's actions that Hashim made headlines, when Hashim, speaking as a UMNO delegate from the state of Perlis
, asked: "Datuk
Hisham has unsheathed his keris, waved his keris, kissed his keris. We want to ask Datuk Hisham when is he going to use it?" He continued that "force must be used against those who refused to abide by the social contract", insisting that Hishammuddin be tougher in dealing with the Chinese national-type schools, which though publicly-funded, are generally independent of the public national school system. Hashim's remark provoked a response from the opposition Democratic Action Party
, which accused him of creating "concern and disquiet among non-Malays in the country. The statements amount to sedition as they have a seditious tendency".
The original Malay remark was: "Dalam Perhimpunan Agung Umno ini, Datuk Hishammuddin dua kali berturut-turut angkat keris. Jadi, kita nak tanya bila Datuk Hishammuddin nak bertikam pulak?" Translated literally, this would read: "At this UMNO General Assembly, Datuk Hishammuddin has twice raised the keris, So, we want to ask when Datuk Hishammuddin will stab instead?" Some have suggested that the meaning of this is ambiguous, as the tone used could be sarcastic.
Hashim was later reprimanded for his statement by UMNO. He stated that he was surprised at the backlash, and that:
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Hashim Suboh is a Malaysian politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
(UMNO), the leading party of the ruling Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
coalition. He is the Deputy Chief of the party's Kangar
Kangar
Kangar is the state capital of Perlis, Malaysia. It has a population of 48,898 and an area of 2,619.4 ha. It is located in the northern most point of Peninsular Malaysia and is situated by the Perlis River. The center of Kangar is Sena Province, which is referred to by few locals as 'Uptown Sena'...
division. Hashim made headlines in Malaysia in 2006 when he made a number of controversial remarks at the UMNO General Assembly that some labeled as seditious
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
.
Controversy
In 2005, Education Minister and UMNO Youth Chief Hishammuddin HusseinHishammuddin Hussein
Datuk Seri Panglima Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein is a Malaysian politician and member of the United Malays National Organisation . He is the current Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs. He is the former Minister of Education, having served from 2004 to 2009. He has been mentioned as a likely...
brandished a kris
Kris
The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger or sword nowadays most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade , but many have...
(Malay dagger) at the UMNO General Assembly. The kris, named Panca Warisan, made another appearance at the 2006 General Assembly. On both occasions, it had been used in the context of defending certain special privileges accorded to the Malays
Malay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
under the Constitution of Malaysia
Constitution of Malaysia
The Federal Constitution of Malaysia, which came into force in 1957, is the supreme law of Malaysia. The Federation was initially called the Federation of Malaya and it adopted its present name, Malaysia, when the States of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined the Federation...
. These privileges, sometimes referred to as the Malay Agenda
Malay Agenda
The Malay Agenda is a concept in Malaysian politics related to the ideal of ketuanan Melayu . Although it did not feature in public discussion for much of the 20th century, in the early 2000s, it came to prominence due to its usage in the discourse of several politicians from the United Malays...
, formed half of the Malaysian social contract, which granted citizenship to non-Malay Malaysians in return for special rights for the Malays. (Such special rights feature heavily in the ideal of ketuanan Melayu
Ketuanan Melayu
Ketuanan Melayu is a political concept emphasizing Malay preeminence in present day Malaysia. The Malays of peninsular Malaysia claimed a special position and special rights owing to their long domicile and the role of the Malay rulers of the nine Malay states...
or Malay supremacy, which is a feature of UMNO's ideology.)
It was after the second instance of Hishammuddin's actions that Hashim made headlines, when Hashim, speaking as a UMNO delegate from the state of Perlis
Perlis
Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia. It lies at the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has Satun and Songkhla Provinces of Thailand on its northern border. It is bordered by the state of Kedah to the south...
, asked: "Datuk
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Hisham has unsheathed his keris, waved his keris, kissed his keris. We want to ask Datuk Hisham when is he going to use it?" He continued that "force must be used against those who refused to abide by the social contract", insisting that Hishammuddin be tougher in dealing with the Chinese national-type schools, which though publicly-funded, are generally independent of the public national school system. Hashim's remark provoked a response from the opposition Democratic Action Party
Democratic Action Party
The Democratic Action Party, or DAP is a secular, multi-racial, social democratic Malaysian political party.The DAP is one of the three major opposition parties in Malaysia, along with the PKR and PAS, that are seen as electable alternatives to the Barisan Nasional coalition of parties...
, which accused him of creating "concern and disquiet among non-Malays in the country. The statements amount to sedition as they have a seditious tendency".
The original Malay remark was: "Dalam Perhimpunan Agung Umno ini, Datuk Hishammuddin dua kali berturut-turut angkat keris. Jadi, kita nak tanya bila Datuk Hishammuddin nak bertikam pulak?" Translated literally, this would read: "At this UMNO General Assembly, Datuk Hishammuddin has twice raised the keris, So, we want to ask when Datuk Hishammuddin will stab instead?" Some have suggested that the meaning of this is ambiguous, as the tone used could be sarcastic.
Hashim was later reprimanded for his statement by UMNO. He stated that he was surprised at the backlash, and that: