SHAH ALAM: The chief organiser of the Malay Dignity Congress here today reminded other communities of their social contract with Malays, saying it was the basis of giving them citizenship which could be suspended if they break the agreement.

Quoting verses from the Quran, Zainal Kling said Malays, who he claimed “inherited the country for over 5,000 years”, could always suspend their social contract with non-Malays, adding that they were the rightful owners of the land.

“Despite our overtures, there are those who went off track, who wanted to manipulate us, who wanted to undermine our dignity, mock our religion, the Malay rulers and the Malays’ special position, and turn their backs on the social contract which is the basis for the Federal Constitution,” he told thousands who converged at the Malawati Stadium here for the congress, where Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has agreed to deliver a keynote address.

Also present were rival leaders from Umno and PAS.

Zainal said Muslims are allowed terminate their treaties with non-Muslims if the latter break the conditions.

“If people want to make light of these contracts, let us remind them in the Quran that there is a line – verses 3 and 4 of Surah Tawbah – allowing for the suspension of the contract.

“If people want to continue to transgress the agreements in the Federal Constitution, then perhaps the Malays have to return to Allah’s words in the Surah At Taubah,” he said.

He said Malaysia is for Malays just as Thailand is for the Thais, China for the Chinese, and India for the Indians.

The congress is jointly organised by Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).

Organisers say it will focus on problems faced by Malays in the fields of education, religion, culture, politics and the economy.