Racism has reached ‘dark and sinister’ levels
The call to boycott Chinese businesses and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s silence show continued desperation and fear among the BN leaders, says Sabah STAR.
Raymond Tombung, FMT
KOTA KINABALU: Calls by Malay-Muslim groups to boycott Chinese businesses is bad enough without Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s arrogant retort for the 51% voters who voted for the opposition to leave the country if they are unhappy, said Bingkor assemblyman Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Compounding this ‘dangerous levels’ of racism is Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s silence, he added.
“The Prime Minister needs to speak up against these calls, lest the BN (Barisan Nasional) and Umno is continued to be seen as supporting extreme racism in Malaysia.
“His continued silence in the face of this increased racism, anti-Chinese activism, and heightening of the Malay supremacy is shocking.
“He dearly needs to speak up against it to show the world that Malaysia is a mature democracy that is model of progress, wisdom and social harmony,” said Jeffrey, who is also Sabah State Reform Party chief.
Alluding to recent racially intoned rantings by the Muslim Consumers Society and the Muslim Consumers Association Malaysia (PPIM), Jeffrey said if left uncontrolled it “will lead Malaysia into turmoil and anarchy”.
Jeffrey said these recent developments had taken racism in Malaysia into “darker and more sinister” levels.
“The call is also a reflection of utter disregard to social harmony and is only the tip of the iceberg in emerging social conflicts in the nation.
“This is all due to gross mismanagement and neglect on the part of the federal leaders.” he said
He said Najib’s silence was shocking considering his ardent call for social harmony and unity under his 1Malaysia banner.
“The socio-political situation now is being made worse by the Home Minister who is so arrogant that he is asking more than half of the Malaysia’s voters who voted against the BN to leave the country!
“Is Malaysia being purposefully led to descend into total chaos by its own leaders? Has this minister forgotten that he is the Home Minister for all Malaysians and not just the Umno/BN members and Malays?
“This behaviour by the Malay Muslim groups and the Home Minister is so unbelievable that one can only wonder if they have any leadership wisdom left in them.
“They make us reel back in utter disbelief at their lack of reason, good manners or diplomacy,” he said.
Are Malay-Muslims ignorant?
Jeffrey also questioned the wisdom of these groups calling for the boycott of Chinese businesses.
“Don’t the Malay-Muslim groups know that boycotting the Chinese businesses is impossible and even if it can be done it will spell disaster for the Malaysian economy?
“Are they so ignorant of the fact that by boycotting Chinese businesses they won’t even be able to survive?
“How would they live without simple things like salt, sugar, coffee, tea, and noodles since these are supplied through Chinese importers and distributors? So don’t even talk about electrical goods, building materials and cars.
“How do you deny the hard fact that the Chinese run the majority of the businesses in Malaysia and without them the country will collapse overnight?” he asked.
