N SEMBILAN POLLS | Perikatan Nasional election director Sanusi Nor has offered several reasons why he believes he is not racist, including his facial features.
“We’ve done many good things, but we don’t like to tell people about them. We do them quietly. But this one has to be mentioned. They say we’re racist. Does my face look racist?” he quipped during a ceramah in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, last night.
Sanusi’s remarks came after he was accused of racism over a speech in which he said, “Malays only have this Tanah Melayu. Indians have India, Chinese have China.”
However, he later insisted that his comments were not meant to belittle other communities but were merely referencing historical facts.
Rolling out his list of evidence to prove that he is not a racist, the Kedah menteri besar noted how his state government provided aid to Chinese independent schools and let people “splash water to their hearts’ content” during the Thai New Year festival of Songkran.
“Every year we give Chinese independent schools RM100,000, RM100,000, RM100,000 to help them.
“Because there are many Chinese schools in Kedah, the RM300,000 is divided among the different schools,” he was quoted as saying by Harakah.
Sanusi also highlighted his government’s efforts to address outstanding land tax issues involving Chinese independent schools.
“Today it was reported in the papers that three independent schools are unable to pay their land tax. Two schools have RM444,000 in outstanding land tax.
“These schools are not profit-oriented. They are independent schools, but they also contribute to educating our children, the children of our state and country, to become knowledgeable individuals,” he said.
He said the state government had taken the schools’ circumstances into account and reduced their outstanding tax burden.
“Out of the RM444,000 in arrears, we wrote off 90 percent. They only had to pay RM44,000. Isn’t that a good thing?” he asked.
No disruption to Songkran
Sanusi also stressed that Kedah remained peaceful and harmonious despite its diverse ethnic makeup.
“We are even more diverse. We have the Siamese community. We have Songkran. We have Tambun. Every year, people splash water around (a tradition to wash away bad luck), but no one disturbs them.
“They can splash as much water as they want, play drums and all that. The Kedah government doesn’t interfere or cause any disruption. Kedah remains peaceful and harmonious,” he added.
He also pointed to Kedah’s investment achievements and financial management throughout his tenure as menteri besar.
“Not only have we recorded the highest investment in our history over the past six years of RM183 billion in Kedah. They keep saying only Penang is good at governing. Kedah is just as capable,” he said.
Sanusi accused Pakatan Harapan of confusing voters and urged Negeri Sembilan residents, regardless of race, not to support the coalition.
“I hope our friends in Negeri Sembilan, in every constituency we are contesting, will vote for BN-PN.
“The coalition includes PAS, Wawasan, Gerakan, Pejuang, and BN, which will represent you in forming a new government in Negeri Sembilan,” he said.
Polling day for the Negeri Sembilan state election is this Saturday (Aug 1). - Mkini
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