Racial issues will split country, say government leaders

Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed says those who spew racially-charged comments think that those actions will make them popular. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, September 21, 2015.The use of racially-charged statements in politics will only end up splitting the country, a few government leaders agreed today at a dialogue on the Malaysian economy, days after a rally by red-shirted protesters was held purportedly to defend Malay dignity.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said a lot of leaders were spewing racially-charged statements just to be popular.

"They think when you make such comments, you can be popular.

"They are some who think that, until a lot want to be popular by being seen as being vocal in racial issues," he said at the Malaysia Economic Update 2015 dialogue today.

Mustapa, who is also Umno Supreme Council member, said racial issues should be resolved immediately and expressed concern that unsolved matters would impact the country negatively.

"We must go back to our humanity. As long as this is not resolved once and for all, it will be very worrying.

"In politics, there are those who believe that they can get votes by being extremists, and they are those who don't."

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar (pic) said Malaysians need to look at the country's racial diversity as a strength.

"We need to look at our diversity as the source of our strength in any organisation."

Wahid said the racial and religious problems in Malaysia stemmed from public education and reiterated his support for single stream schooling.

"One of the reasons why we lack integration is because our children studied in different schools during primary level.

"It is something we have to tackle so that our children can study in one school, one stream."

The “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” rally last Wednesday to counter the Bersih 4 rally last month, which some Malay rights activists said had insulted to Malay dignity.

Dubbed the 'red shirt' because of the rally's chosen colour, the gathering in Kuala Lumpur saw racially provocative statements made, including a banner calling for the closure of vernacular schools.

At the dialogue today, Pemandu CEO Datuk Seri Idris Jala (pic) urged people to cherish the stability that Malaysia had and not to cause racial provocation, which he said will only trigger conflict.

"We must appreciate the stability, I am very worried by those who cause racial tension and we do not what will it do towards the country.

"Whatever we do for the country, we must be cool and steady".

- TMI