Bigots and zealots failed to undermine M'sian unity - Dr M

Malaysia has managed to survive attempts by bigots and zealots to undermine national unity, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Yes, there have been setbacks and attempts by bigots and zealots to divide and undermine our unity and common objectives but, thank God, we have prevailed and we are able to stay on course to showcase a nation that is united in its diversity," he said.

Mahathir said this while welcoming international varsity students to Malaysia at the University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Shah Alam.

The prime minister did not elaborate on his remarks on the matter.

The current government, however, has faced a number of racially and religiously charged issues since it came to power.

Most recently, there has been discontent among some segments of the public over the government's reported plans to introduce "khat" into the Bahasa Melayu syllabus for Standard Four students.

Khat is calligraphy for Jawi - the Arabic script adapted for the Malay language.

A group of DAP grassroots leaders had claimed that incorporating Jawi into the Bahasa Melayu syllabus could tear apart Malaysia's social fabric.

Education Minister Maszlee Malik, who was present at the event in Shah Alam today, said he will issue an official statement on the matter soon.

Previously, the government was forced to back down from ratifying two international conventions, namely the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd).

Critics of the Rome Statute claimed it undermined the Malay Rulers, causing an outcry among conservative Malays.

Likewise, the government had to ditch plans to ratify Icerd, following protests which claimed the convention would threaten the special position of Malays and Islam in the country. - Mkini