Malays march in support of Malaysian government

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Thousands of ruling–party supporters marched through Malaysia’s capital Wednesday to support the embattled government and assert the political dominance of the Malay majority, in a demonstration whose racial overtones have sparked concern.

The demonstration was organized by figures in the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) in response to massive street rallies last month calling for Prime Minister Najib Razak’s resignation over a financial scandal.

The vast majority of those marching in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday were young ethnic Malay men wearing UMNO red, with some carrying banners and shouting slogans such as “Long live the Malays.’’

“I came to defend Malay rights,’’ said Aswad Shaari, 25, who was among large numbers of Malays bussed in by organizers from the countryside.

UMNO has controlled multi-ethnic Malaysia for 58 years, reserving economic and other advantages for Muslim Malays. Malaysia also has sizeable ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.