KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 – Utusan Malaysia today defended its decision to run its controversial “Apa Lagi Cina Mahu?” (What More Do the Chinese Want?) headline, months after it thrashed the Chinese community for “rejecting” the Malay-led Barisan Nasional government in the 13th General Election.

In today's column by Awang Selamat, the collective voice of the paper's editors, the Umno-owned daily accused the Chinese community of actively working towards the removal of Malay political power, despite having been given all the opportunity by the government to earn their riches.

“When Utusan Malaysia ran a commentary on its front page titled ‘Apa Lagi Cina Mahu?’ two days after the GE13 results, some DAP and Chinese NGO leaders were angry despite the contents of the report considered by many as realistic and a rational question.

“The message is that the Chinese community do not like to be criticised and reminded of the fact that their use of racial politics has gone overboard and is dangerous,” said Awang Selamat, a pseudonym used to relay the paper’s collective editorial voice.

Citing excerpts from the book The Chinese Dilemma, written by Chinese businessman Ye Lin-Shing, the newspaper claimed that even a Chinese from mainland China could see that the Chinese community here are an ungrateful lot who are arrogant and insulting towards the Malays.

Translating the excerpts into Malay, Utusan quoted Ye as claiming that the Chinese have it good in Malaysia compared to their counterparts in Vietnam where they were forced to leave, or in Cambodia where they were killed or chased away.

The column also quoted Ye as saying in his book that the Chinese are lording over the Malays and that the Chinese here are extremist and racist.

“But that is the special thing about the Malays, they are a race that is courteous and patient… Awang feels sorry for the Malays. Even after giving in so much to the Chinese for so long, we continue to be hurt and betrayed.

“Budi yang dihulur, racun yang diberi (Extend a favour, repaid with poison). Even then, many Malays remain clueless,” the column read.

Last May 7, Utusan splashed the headline “Apa Lagi Cina Mahu?” on its front-page, two days after the ruling Barisan Nasional was returned with a diminished majority.

The Malay daily also trained its guns on DAP, accusing the opposition party of racist politics.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had also blamed BN’s dismal election performance on a “Chinese tsunami”, claiming that the opposition Pakatan Rakyat had played on racial sentiments to woo support from the country’s second largest ethnic group.