Racial concerns arise as people lose faith in the gov’t - Selangor MB

Racial issues that have been cropping up across the country is underlined by the much larger concern of the people’s waning faith in the government, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said.

The loss of trust in the administration, Amirudin (photo) said, is creating a “nervous and restless” atmosphere in the country.

“I believe the question of loss of faith (in the government) is underlying this.

“(Many incidents) have created this feeling of (races) seeking equality, but such equality does not exist and is blamed on the system. And so, the first victims would be the important institutions such as the judiciary, policing and security.

“When such loss of trust exists, confidence (in the system) also erodes...and this creates the non-peaceful, chaotic environment today,” he said.

The menteri besar made the claim when delivering a speech at the close of the "National Seminar on Living Together in Diversity: Building A Peaceful Nation and Culture" seminar at Shah Alam last night.

Also present were PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE) chief executive Dr Mohammad Redzuan Othman, and Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

Amirudin’s speech came 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.

Anwar: Malays should be open

Hence, the menteri besar, who is also PKR’s Sungai Tua assemblyperson said he believed people would prioritise a government that can get the work done, despite its leaders’ alleged racist nature.

Citing the United States as an example, Amirudin highlighted the election of Barack Obama as the nation’s first African-American president in 2009.

Many people, he said, hoped the election would help ease the tension between the white and coloured community there.

Instead, eroding trust in the government only led to the “funny and scary” situation in which Donald Trump was elected the next president, he said.

Since assuming office in 2016, Trump’s presidency has been faced with allegations of sexism, bigotry and racism.

Hence, Amirudin said he believed the people would prioritise a government that can get work done, despite its leaders’ alleged racist nature.

He cited India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi as another example of a leader faced with accusations of discrimination but who was re-elected based on his efforts on strengthening the country’s economy and develop housing.

Meanwhile, Anwar (above), also speaking at the event, called on the Malays to change their narrative concerning poverty to be fairer to the poor from other races.

He said the Malay community should be more open to accepting policies which will benefit all races in Malaysia, including the Malays themselves.

He said the New Economic Policy (NEP), which had been implemented over several decades to try and eradicate poverty, did not work.

“To those who want the policy to remain because it will help the Malays, don’t forget that the NEP did not succeed, from the angle of eradicating poverty, even if we say it did not fail.

“In terms of the gap between the poor and the rich, it is more critical now than in 1971 (the NEP was introduced in 1970). That means, with the NEP, the difference between rich Malays and poor Malays is starker now,” he said.

The prime minister-in-waiting had in July called for the need for Malaysia to shift from race-based affirmative action economic plans to one that is needs-based.

The NEP was introduced in 1970, with race-based affirmative action favouring Malays and other bumiputera, to encourage equal economic growth among the races, following the deadly May 13 riots.

It was replaced with the National Development Policy in 1991 and the National Vision Policy (NVP) in 2001. - Mkini