Cabinet must be for all races

New leader: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman leaving the palace after his swearing-in ceremony yesterday. — Bernama

CONGRATULATIONS to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on being appointed as the country’s new Prime Minister.

His appointment as the country’s eighth Prime Minister reduces a little bit the political uncertainty that engulfed the country when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad tendered his resignation as PM last week and the Pakatan Harapan government collapsed less than two years after it was voted in.

Focus now will be on the appointment of new Cabinet ministers. It is very important that the new Cabinet is representative of all groups of people and races in Malaysia. The Cabinet cannot only comprise individuals from any one single group or race if the new government is to govern the country effectively.

The country’s new leader must accept the reality that Malaysia is a complex country made up many different groups of people and races. Disregarding this fact could lead the new government and the entire country to chaos once again, and eventually even destruction.

In a multiracial country, mutual respect and tolerance is crucial. Without such an attitude, it will be hard for anyone to govern. As such, it is important for everybody to set aside any differences they might have had previously and work together to ensure the progress of our country.

We should actually be grateful that ours is a multiracial society, as this mix enriches the country. We can learn about each other and help each other to better the nation as a whole.

This matter is written in the Quran, as God made human beings into many races so that our lives would be made more meaningful and enjoyable through the spirit of friendship and cooperation we can generate between different races. Just imagine what would happen if only a single race occupied this planet – life would indeed be dull.

Every individual, as well as every race, has strengths and weaknesses. There is no such thing as a perfect individual or a perfect race. We all need each other if we want to succeed, and if we want to make our country great. Instead of arguing with each other, we must learn from and cooperate with each other so that we can live in peace and enjoy prosperity.

Malaysia has been and will always be a multiracial country. Even before we gained our independence in 1957, Malayan society comprised different races. This fact is undeniable and must be accepted by everyone in the country. As a multiracial country, conflict and misunderstanding can easily arise if we are not respectful towards each other.As such, it is very important that the new government takes this point seriously and ensures that the new Cabinet represents all groups of people and races that Malaysia contains.

DR MUZAFFAR SYAH MALLOW , Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Syariah & Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia - Star