KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 — Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek tonight called for racial tolerance and harmony amid a battle of wills between Umno and Malay rights group Perkasa.
The MCA president said racist remarks against any community should be considered as an insult to the whole country.
“Phrases such as ‘immigrants, go back to China or India’ and other derogatory remarks which have been said by certain parties against the Chinese and Indian community should not happen because we are all Malaysians.
“For Malaysians who love the country, these remarks should be an insult and action should be taken against the irresponsible parties,” he told the audience during the 1 Malaysia Lantern Festival at Wisma MCA here.
Dr Chua said Malaysians should be identified by their nationality and not their race.
“In line with the 1 Malaysia concept, we should seriously consider the question of race asked on each application form available at the moment.
“Our Malaysian citizenship should become the core of our identity and not our race or ancestry. For example, when we sit for an examination, does it make any difference if we are a Malay, Chinese or Indian?” he added.
Umno has appeared to be divided on whether to associate or alienate the party with the controversial Malay rights group.
Several Umno leaders including Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin have claimed that the party was not bowing to Perkasa’s demands.
But other leaders like Umno deputy permanent chairman Datuk Mohamed Aziz have said that there was no need for Umno to distance itself from Perkasa, and that if there were Umno leaders who felt that way, it was their personal views and did not reflect the party’s stand.
Datuk Seri Najib Razak said last Friday that Umno was not in conflict with any non-governmental organisations despite the recent move by party leaders to distance it from Perkasa.
Shortly after that, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said he had never asked party members to sever ties with Perkasa, denying an earlier statement where he was reported to have said that the country’s largest Malay party will not back Perkasa in the next general election and that the right-wing group was eroding the party’s non-Malay support.
Dr Chua stressed that there must be social and political stability for the country to achieve Vision 2020.
“I am confident that every Malaysian who loves the country has the responsibility to realise 1 Malaysia so we must always promote tolerance to ensure social and political stability. Only then can our country move forward and become a high-income nation by 2020,” he said.
The MCA has continuously been targeted by Perkasa and the Malay rights group has been the main instigator in a recent spat between the two largest parties in Barisan Nasional (BN).
Umno and the MCA appeared to be at each other’s throats when Dr Chua called for the removal of the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity target and urged the government to accept the 13 resolutions formulated during its recent Chinese Economic Congress.
Perkasa further fanned the fires when it attacked the MCA for allegedly questioning the “special rights of Malays” which it claimed were enshrined under the Federal Constitution.
Umno leaders then warned the MCA not to forget the BN’s struggles when fighting for the rights of the Chinese.
Perkasa has also lodged a police report against Dr Chua for questioning the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity target.
No comments:
Post a Comment