Just a slap on the wrist for Utusan from DPM
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani (The Malaysian Insider)
PETALING JAYA, June 2 – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin issued a mild rebuke today against Utusan Malaysia for calling non-Malays immigrants, urging the Umno-owned newspaper to instead show greater respect and understanding toward all races in the country.
The deputy prime minister was commenting on an article published last weekend by the Sunday edition of Utusan Malaysia, Mingguan Malaysian. The column by Awang Selamat referred to non-Malays as “Kaum Pendatang” or immigrants, and also asked if the sacrifice of Malays has been betrayed by non-Malays.
“You have to respect the position of every race in the country. Those who have been accorded proper citizenship, irrespective whether they are Malay, Chinese or Indians, is provided for in the law and constitution. So, whoever it is, I do hope that there has to be better understanding, whether or not it is Utusan,” he said.
The article made reference to the rights of citizenship given to non-Malays before independence, comparing Malaysia to other countries which according to the weekly had rejected their immigrant communities.
The article also quoted former MIC president Tun V.T Sambanthan as comparing Malaysia to Burma, where the Indian community had been forced out.
Muhyiddin pointed out that such articles are irresponsible and goes against the government’s 1Malaysia concept. He said that it is important that the media should preserve a good sense of judgment.
“We are talking about Malaysians of all races working together in unity. That is very important because we do not want to create unnecessary problems among ourselves. We must treasure the good relations that we have developed among each other and we must continue respecting each other,” he added.
Utusan Malaysia had over the past week ratcheted up racial tensions by running daily stories criticising calls to allow former communist leader Chin Peng to return to Malaysia, linking it to what the newspaper says are moves to question Malay rights.
