Anwar points finger at political leaders for causing racial tensions

PARLIAMENT | The real cause of the rising racial and religious tensions in the country are politicians, Anwar Ibrahim said today.

As such, the Port Dickson MP suggested that the government holds some sort of dialogue to address this issue.

"We need to admit that the rising temperatures on this issue actually come from political leaders and that is why there need to be specific measures to hold a meeting or dialogue to ease the situation.

"Because what they (politicians) say is usually done out there and the ones who become the victims are the rakyat.

"That is why I do not think this is a problem of the rakyat, but a problem of some among the leadership," Anwar said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said this when asking a supplementary question to his earlier question on the immediate measures taken by the government to curb and reduce the tension following the increasing number of sensitive racial and religious issues.

In response to Anwar's suggestion for a dialogue to be held, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Hanipa Maidin said it was a good idea and the government would look into it.

This comes amidst rising racial tension in the country over various issues, among them, accusations that Malay rights and privileges were under threat and alleged Islamisation agenda affecting non-Muslims.

This followed as the new Pakatan Harapan government comes under intense criticism for failing to fulfil various election manifesto promises made prior to GE14 and amidst concerns over rising costs of living. - Mkini