MP rues worsening unity despite billions spent on programmes

 

Upko leader Wilfred Madius Tangau says unity had been one of the main objectives in all the Malaysia Plans. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A Sabah MP today voiced concern over worsening race relations despite Putrajaya spending billions on unity programmes.

Wilfred Madius Tangau (PH-Tuaran) said a unity department had been set up in 1969 and two years later, the department was turned into a ministry, “but unity in the country is worsening”.

The billions spent on managing the ministry could have been channelled to Sabah to solve its infrastructure problems, he said, “since the government policies are not in line with unity and do not promote integration”.

Speaking during the debate on the Supply Bill 2022 at the committee stage in the Dewan Rakyat, Tangau said Bahasa Malaysia was made the national language to achieve unity and it was mandatory to pass the paper in the SPM to work in the public sector.

“Malaysians accepted this well,” he said.

But, he said, a 1986 circular prohibiting Christians from using four words – Allah, Kaabah, Baitullah and Solat – was against the “spirit of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language”.

He said the circular was no longer valid as the High Court had quashed the 1986 ban as it was against Article 11 and 12 of the Federal Constitution on the freedom of religion and the right to education on religious matters.

He urged the government to accept the decision and withdraw the 1986 circular. - FMT