Muhyiddin said today that “nobody mentioned” May 13.
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin appeared today to agree that Malaysia could experience racial instability if Barisan Nasional (BN) loses power in the coming polls to Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The Umno deputy president dismissed talk of a repeat of the May 13 race riots, but said that if Malaysia was ruled by a “fractured” pact like PR, there would be no guarantee of peace and stability among the country’s different races.
He pointed out that the Malays and Bumiputeras make up more than 60 per cent of the country’s over 29 million population.
“Imagine if they do not get their appropriate places (in politics) based on the Constitution.
“What would the situation be? What more, if other groups take over the country and they do not give appropriate attention to the Malays and Bumiputeras, or fair treatment to the other races, like what Umno has done,” Muhyiddin said at a press conference after Umno’s main general assembly kicked off this morning.
He said the power-sharing formula under BN has been accepted for half a century, and has given Malaysians the kind of peace and stability they enjoy today.
“So if there is no situation like this, and we hand things over to parties where things are still uncertain, do we think that we can stay this way, stay this peaceful, this stable?
“Because this new party cannot guarantee what we have today,” he said.
Muhyiddin was asked if he believes Malaysia would experience racial conflict if the Malays lose political power.
Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had yesterday warned that a weak Umno would lead to a loss of political power for the country’s dominant ethnic group.
She had also said in her speech text at the Wanita Umno general assembly that a weak Umno and a loss of power for the Malays could create tension among the races and could lead to a repeat of the May 13, 1969 race riots.
But Muhyiddin said today that “nobody mentioned” May 13, adding that the warning was that chaos would ensue should PR come to power as its parties are still bickering over their ideological differences.
He pointed out that if PR’s three parties of PKR, DAP and PAS were still yet to resolve these differences, it would be difficult for the pact to cooperate with one another and run a country.
Umno has been attacking PR for its failure to commit to a common understanding on key policies and sensitive matters pertaining to religion.
PAS and DAP in particular have been singled out, largely due to the parties’ protracted dispute over the implementation of an Islamic state, which has long been PAS’ founding struggle.
“So this reminder by BN is not to frighten others, but it is clear that we cannot gamble away our futures and that of our children,” he said.
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