Deputy Prime Minister Muhyddin Yassin's protective comments of Umno-owned newspaper Utusan and its proposed 1Melayu, 1Bumi is unlikely to set off the same fire that snaked through the nation when he declared he was Malay first and Malaysian second last year.
His political rivals warned that it was just a gimmick to satisfy the right-wing members in Umno, with Prime Minister Najib Razak and former premier Mahathir Mohamad already briefed and agreeable to the script. Both Najib and Mahathir had scolded Utusan for its suggestion last week, saying it could destroy racial unity.