Racial tensions: Rafizi blames others but lacks own execution, says don

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is not solely to blame for failing to keep the rising racial and religious tensions in check, according to National Unity Advisory Council member Tajuddin Rasdi.

He said the problem is not the government’s problem alone, but an issue for all educated and good-hearted Malaysians.

Tajuddin noted that Rafizi had hardly addressed any racial or religious issues at all when the latter was a minister, and did not deal with any cases of religious or racial tensions caused by individuals and the opposition in his podcasts.

“As usual, Rafizi is in his classic mode of blaming others, especially his former boss, without any concrete execution on his own part,” he said in a statement to Malaysiakini.

In KiniTV's “Explain Sikit” podcast aired last night, Rafizi said Anwar is to blame for the government’s failure to ease tensions, purportedly because Anwar was more concerned with not incurring Umno’s wrath than nipping racial issues in the bud.

‘Rafizi should know’

As an example, he cited the 2024 controversy involving socks bearing the word “Allah” found in a KK Mart convenience store, where it has taken time for Anwar to meet Umno’s leadership to discuss the matter.

At the time, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh and others were calling Muslims to boycott the retail chain.

However, Tajuddin said that if Anwar intervenes in such issues, it becomes political fuel to be exploited by the opposition, and Rafizi should be aware of this.

As for Akmal, he said it is not Anwar’s place to rein in the Merlimau assemblyperson since he is under Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s ambit.

“Zahid is the one having to play a tip-toe game, as it might alienate his own party members and also fuel PAS to attack him.

“I think Rafizi knows this also,” said the professor of Islamic architecture.

Rafizi Ramli

Instead, Tajuddin said the mufti’s office should have been more vocal to curb such voices.

He also agreed with Rafizi that a National Goodwill Council, or Majlis Muhibbah Negara, should be established to heal racial relations.

Such a council should be led by eminent persons who are free of political partisanship to mitigate all race and religious issues.

“I have been talking about it for 20 years. This is the first time I have heard such a thing from Rafizi.

“To help navigate race and religious issues, it requires all Malaysians to be on deck, not just the prime minister, whoever he or she is, and that includes you, Rafizi,” he said. - Mkini