Anwar calls for national consensus
It is important for all Malaysians to reach a national consensus on crucial issues that impact the nation’s identity.
Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today called for all Malaysians to reach a national consensus on crucial issues that impact the sub-stratum of the nation’s identity.
“There has been, particularly in the last few months, a series of circumstances and developments that collectively are fast eroding the cohesiveness that is so crucial to our identity,” the Permatang Pauh MP told a press conference here.
“These developments appear to be reaching a crescendo that threatens to tear the very fabric of our unity apart,” he added.
Anwar stressed that prevention is better than cure and called upon all parties to cease questioning the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation.
“We must reject the notion that Islam is under threat. We must reject the notion that there is some sinister conspiracy to replace Islam as the religion of the Federation with some other religion,” he said.
“In fact, we have not seen this building up of tension since the events leading up to our national tragedy of May 13, 1969,” he lamented.
“The voices of hate and animosity, the voices of prejudice and suspicion, and the voices of wreck and ruin are attempting to drown out the harmony, cooperation and understanding that we have managed to build on the ruins of this tragedy,” he added.
Anwar urged leaders on both sides of the political divide to set aside all partisan concerns and show real leadership in easing the tension and work towards ameliorating the situation.
He said the nation should remain focused on “things that really matter” so that the country can move forward.
“Let us work together to tackle the issues of governance, transparency and accountability,” he said.
“Whether it is at the Federal or state levels, let us resolve to stamp out the cancer of corruption which still plagues us,” he added.
