We'll fight opposition's racial politics by mending economy - Guan Eng

The Pakatan Harapan government will take on the opposition's race-based politics by improving the economy, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.

Referring to racial sentiments allegedly brought up by opposition leaders during yesterday's rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd), Lim deemed this "dangerous politics."

"That is something which is completely unhealthy. It is as if they have forgotten that the prime minister is Dr Mahathir Mohamad... isn't he a Malay? Isn't he a Muslim?

"Isn't the deputy prime minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail a Malay? Isn't she a Muslim? Sentiment like this is dangerous.

"I was informed by not only non-Malays and non-Muslims, but also from the Malays about this matter (racial sentiments) which we have to face," he said at the Selangor DAP Ordinary Convention in Petaling Jaya today.

At the anti-Icerd rally yesterday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi issued a warning that the Malay and Muslim community "would rise" if their rights are infringed upon.

Umno lawmaker Tajuddin Abd Rahman, meanwhile, claimed that the treaty was the United Nations' method to take over of Malay and Muslim political power.

People's economy

Lim, the DAP secretary-general, said in his speech that the Harapan administration is focused on improving the rakyat's economic well-being regardless of ethnic and religious background.

"That is our responsibility, it won't be easy. This is what we have to work on wholeheartedly, to improve the economic situation of the rakyat, especially the Malays and the bumiputera who are poor.

"If we achieve success, the rakyat will continue to support the government, which can improve their livelihood, and perform better in serving the rakyat," he said.

"Harapan has proven that this is the best weapon to fight the opposition – to improve the people's situation and economy. 

"We have seen this in Selangor and Penang because we had improved the people's economy," he added, referring to the two Harapan-led states. - Mkini