DPM ACKNOWLEDGES COUNTRY WAS ONCE COLONISED

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on
Wednesday acknowledged that the country was once colonised by the British,
but said that the concept was different.

"The British advised the Rulers. In this context, the advice of the
(British) commissioner must be accepted. This means that although they (the
Rulers) were there, they were not independent and had to abide by the advice of
the British," he said when replying to a question from member of parliament
Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) in Lower House of Parliament.

Azmin had wanted to know whether the country was colonised because the
sultans and other rulers were around during the period in question, and this
according to him, confused the people especially students.

Hence, Muhyiddin said, under this concept, the struggle to free the country
was necessary and the contributions of freedom-fighters like Tunku Abdul Rahman
and Onn Jaafar should not be ignored.

Muhyiddin said the struggle for independence had its significance, and it
was not celebrated each year in futility.

"This is historical fact. Otherwise, what is the point of our struggle. We
need not have a lengthy debate on the matter as the people have accepted it.
Fifty-four years of celebrating independence must have its significance," he
stressed.
-- BERNAMA