A RACIST and a hypocrite – that’s the damning verdict among some online commentators who could not hide their contempt and disgust at UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s perceived silence over the on-going FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) scandal involving seven naturalised players.
In a no-holds barred Facebook post, The Coverage Media blasted the staunch defender of race and religion for being selective with how he chooses to defend the nation, race and religion. It was sarcastically surmised that “selective ketuanan (supremacy) is no ketuanan at all.”
The Merlimau state assemblyman was scorned as “the man who brandished a samurai sword over the Allah socks issue, who threatened mega-rallies against Trump and KK Mart, who positions himself as the ultimate defender of Bangsa, Agama, Negara … has gone completely silent the moment an international body (FIFA) dares to insult Malay institutions and Malay privileges.”
It was gleefully argued that with the main protagonists in the whole sordid affair being from the majority ethnic group, FIFA’s damning verdict is “an attack on Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) itself”. As such, the following questions beg answers:
- “So why isn’t Akmal outside FIFA HQ in Zurich swinging his katana?
- “Why no 100,000-man rally in Bukit Jalil shouting ‘FIFA go home’?
- “When kafir (infidel) FIFA humiliates Malay institutions, the great defender of special rights suddenly discovers the virtue of silence.”
‘Malay supremacy under siege’
Underlining the apparent hypocrisy, the independent online news portal asked: “But when seven foreigners who can’t speak Bahasa get Malaysian ICs overnight and FIFA exposes the whole rotten show, you zip your mouth?”
Given the Melaka state Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security’s executive councillor’s penchant for constantly stirring the 3R (race, religion and royalty) pot, more than a few commenters were keen to let him know they saw through his charade.
One simply claimed that the 37-year-old Russian-trained doctor was asleep for now and is just awaiting the right time to awake.
Another commenter chided that Akmal was checking to see if the FAM flag was upside down before making an appearance.
The UMNO firebrand’s absence from the limelight was explained as him being preoccupied with “project besar” in Sabah with “so many flags along the roadside” amid the upcoming state polls this Saturday (Nov 29).
The flag theme was a constant in the thread highlighting the rightist politician’s narrow agenda.
It was also claimed that Akmal would only target the Chinese and DAP but is nowhere to be seen when international bodies are concerned.
The ridiculousness of Akmal’s rants and tirades was highlighted by one comment that sought to tie the UMNO politician with another purveyor of the Ketuanan Melayu narrative – Prof Solehah Yaacob.
Although the UMNO Youth chief can claim to have sizeable support from like-minded individuals, those holding the opposite view are also quite sizeable in number, judging from the comments.
His continued poking of hornet’s nests has not gone down well, especially with non-Muslims who are often the target of his hate campaigns.
The question that begs to be asked is whether UMNO is willing to risk putting all of its eggs in one rightist-shaped basket?
As can be seen from this Facebook post and the many comments, non-Muslim voters are being alienated while they are very likely to be kingmakers come the 16th General Election (GE16) which must be held by Feb 17, 2028.
For now, Akmal and his rightist mob’s silence when the nation’s reputation has been dragged through the mud speaks volumes. – Nov 27, 2025
