Organiser’s excuse for not inviting Anwar ‘unreasonable’ - ex-minister

• UPDATED 2.49PM | Added comments from Zainal on invitations to the congress

The organiser’s excuse that PKR was not specifically invited to the Malay Dignity Congress as it was not a Malay-based party is “unreasonable”, said former higher education minister Khaled Nordin.

Khaled, who has previously questioned the use of public universities in organising the congress tomorrow, also challenged the reasoning given over the exclusion of PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim from the event.

“The excuse that as the congress was open to all Malays, and as such, there was no need for him (Anwar) to be sent a special invite is very superficial and desperate.

“I did not for once expect such an answer (on PKR) could come from those who deem themselves Malaysian scholars,” the Umno vice-president said in a statement today.

His statement came with the heading "Malay Dignity Congress organiser provides unreasonable excuse".

Yesterday, Malay Dignity Congress secretariat chief executive Zainal Kling was quoted saying in Utusan Online that PKR was not invited to attend as its membership was “mixed”.

“We did not invite non-Malay parties as PKR is mixed (race membership) so cannot be invited. But Malays we invite,” Zainal reportedly said.

He also previously denied omitting to invite Anwar, claiming no special invitations were issued as the event was open to all, while Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was invited to give the opening address.

However, Zainal had previously told Malaysiakini that PKR was among the parties invited to the congress.

When contacted today, he clarified that Anwar's party was not specifically invited, but Malay party members were welcome to attend.

"As stated in UM (Utusan), Malay parties were invited. Malay members from other parties are openly invited. Malay PKR members are welcomed," he said when contacted.

Khaled, meanwhile, further pointed out that Anwar (photo) is not only a Malay but the prime minister-in-waiting.

“He (Anwar) is no ordinary leader. He helped with the birth of the reformasi movement in Malaysia and is a progressive Malay figure. As the prime minister-in-waiting, he should know clearly the concerns and issues of the Malays,” he added.

“If he, who is waiting for the transition of power, is not considered as part of those who hold the interests of the Malays, who else could be more worthy?”

He contended that Bersatu, led by Mahathir who will be officiating the event at Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam, put to the public varsities not to invite Anwar to “indirectly” prevent the latter’s plan to take over.

Tomorrow’s event is organised by the Malay Excellence Studies Centre Universiti Malaya, in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Sultan Idris Education University. The organisers have said the event is apolitical.

Khaled, nonetheless, said Umno would be sending representatives to the Malay Dignity Congress to judge its contents, and if succeeds - or fail - to display thinking, ideas and narratives to improve Malay competitiveness.

Additional reporting by Ramieza Wahid