Stay out, Taib tells extremists
By Stephen Then, The Star
MIRI: Sarawak Barisan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has warned politicians in peninsular Malaysia not to bring racial or religious issues into Sarawak in the coming state election.
He said he was concerned that Opposition leaders, in particular, would resort to highlighting sensitive issues in Sarawak in the polls.
The Chief Minister noted that during the Sibu parliamentary by-election in May, Opposition parties instigated voters against the government with peninsula-based politicians firing up emotions with extreme racial and religious issues.
“During the Sibu by-election, the Opposition claimed that the Barisan Nasional government had burned copies of the Bible. We were caught by surprise by these tactics. In Sarawak, such issues have never been raised before.
“Do not bring these issues into Sarawak. The people of Sarawak must not believe these things if they are raised again during the state election,” he said at a dinner organised by the Miri Malay Charitable Trust Board here on Thursday.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu president said Sarawak had never faced religious problems.
“We Muslims respect the Bible. We respect the things that the Bible preaches. We believe in the 10 commandments as contained in the Bible.
“We believe in the miracles performed by Jesus Christ as described in the Bible. We Muslims have no problems with the Bible and we will never resort to burning the Bible because the Bible is sacred to us, too. Do not stir up these issues in Sarawak,’’ warned Taib.
The Chief Minister said religiously-charged issues during the Sibu by-election were raised by politicians from outside Sarawak.
He also warned the Opposition against resorting to racial issues.
“In Sarawak, we do not have any racial jealousy. For example, our universities have more Chinese students than bumiputra students, but there is no jealousy about this.
“PBB has never complained that there are not enough bumiputra students. We allow those capable to develop, even from among the Chinese. We have no problem with that.”
Taib said he wanted to see issues concerning development being the focus of attention.
He added that in Sarawak, the main thrust was the politics of development and progress and not politics of division and hatred.
