HISHAM APOLOGISES FOR WIELDING KERIS

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein apologizing to all Malaysians for his raising of the keris action . However, he did not want to say if the tradition of kissing the keris would be stopped at future Umno Youth assemblies.

He said: “If it affected anyone, I cannot run away from the reality of it. I apologize to the non-Malays and the Malays. To the non-Malays because of the fear to a symbol which was not my intention. And to the Malays for not being able to uphold their symbol of heritage.”

Describing it as a “sad lesson”, he said as a leader, he must be gracious and accept the consequences because the party came first.

The wielding of the keris was introduced at the Umno Youth assembly in 2005 to symbolize Malay tradition. At the start of the assembly, a procession carrying the keris would proceed to the hall to hand it to the Youth chief, who would then unsheathe and kiss it.

In the 2006 assembly, there was uneasiness among non-Malays when some speakers made racially slanted remarks about using the keris. Things were made worse as the proceedings of the assembly were telecast live.

MCA and several other Barisan component party leaders criticized the use of the keris in such a manner.

However, Hishammuddin had then defended his action, saying the keris was a symbol of Malay culture.