MALAYSIANS must back Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s call for increased efforts to rebuild the country, said Pakatan Harapan today, following a spike in religious and racial tensions over the past week.
“Lately, Malaysians have been divided on racial and religious issues, such as khat.
“Ahead of the 62nd Merdeka and 56th Malaysia Day celebrations, everyone should… savour the success we have achieved together, in order to build a clean, fair and successful nation,” said the ruling pact in a statement signed by PKR, Bersatu and Amanah presidents Anwar Ibrahim, Muhyiddin Yassin and Mohamad Sabu, respectively, and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
PH said regardless of their background or position, Malaysians must always embrace unity and build understanding of one another.
The pact called on the people to set aside polemics that could destroy Malaysia.
“We must reject the kind of politics that benefit only small groups.
“Malaysia is a multiracial country that needs harmony… its citizens are people of different races, religions and cultures. Our diversity must be protected and respected by all segments of society.
“As such, let us support the prime minister in his call to redouble our efforts to rebuild this country, so that it will be prosperous and respected by everybody.”
Over the last week, two issues have spiked racial and religious tension in the country.
An Education Ministry plan to introduce the teaching of khat in Bahasa Melayu textbooks to Primary Four pupils in vernacular schools was met with stiff resistance from the United Chinese School Committees Association, or Dong Zong.
Dr Mahathir then accused the group of being racist.
“We have freedom of speech, but we are also always sensitive about not instigating people of different races to fight with each other.
“But Dong Zong is only talking about one community and forgetting that this is a multiracial country,” he said.
It also led to Malay groups lodging police reports against the organisation.
Muslim preacher Zakir Naik’s remarks at a recent ceramah in Kelantan had also spiked tensions when he said the Hindu community in Malaysia is more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than they are to Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
It led to three ministers – M. Kula Segaran, Gobind Singh Deo and Xavier Jeyakumar – telling the prime minister in a recent cabinet meeting that Zakir should be deported.
They had also asked for his preaching activity to be stopped.
More than 100 police reports had been made against the Indian national, who is a permanent resident in Malaysia.
– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.