Najib must be tough on religious extremists
Sabah assemblyman Wilfred Bumburing said damage already caused by these extremists is not easy to mend.
(Free Malaysia Today) – The only way Prime Minister Najib Razak can redeem himself and prove that he is truly a leader of multiracial Malaysia is if he takes tough action against religious extremists and hate groups who are wrecking havoc to race and religious harmony in the country, said Tamparuli assemblyman Wilfred Bumburing.
He said the recent series of dreadful incidents such as the attack on two elderly nuns in Seremban and the anti-Christian forum held in Universiti Teknology Malaysia (UiTM) had radically changed the image of Malaysia in the eyes of the international community, and is fast tearing the nation’s multi-racial social fabric
He observed that all these happening run counter to the 1Malaysia slogan that Najib launched immediately after being sworn in as the PM, in 2009, and continued to preach during and after the last general election.
“Today, very few Malaysian take that slogan seriously because of what is happening. Some even interpret the silence of the government as a tacit support to what has been done taking into account the admission of the government that allocation had been given to Perkasa to do their program,” he said.
He added that the damage caused is not easy to mend and it will put the courage of the government and Najib to test in taking the right decision and action to stop them.
“The people are wondering and curious on the continued deafening silence on the part of the Prime Minister whom the people expect to lead the country.
“At this point, the Prime Minister must be brave enough to immediately take a decisive action to stop the attack on the Christian religion and on other races in Malaysia,” said Bumburing who is also president of the Movement of Change Sabah (APS).
Bumburing demanded that the full force of the law be applied on religious extremists and hate groups, across the board.
He said the government should stop selective persecution.
He cited for instance, MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok had been charged in court over her new year video but no action had been take against Ibrahim Ali who had uttered the most seditious and dangerous word by saying that he is prepared to launch “perang salib” (crusade).
“He should have been arrested immediately. The organizer of the forum in UiTM must be made to account for what they have done. UiTM belongs to all Malaysia, be they Muslim or non-Muslims.
“Why did the university allowed such a horrendous forum where an open attack and ridicule and hate campaign materials on the Christian religion were distributed?
“We are indeed thankful that the Christians, true to the teaching of Christianity, did not react to the attack.
“If they are to engage the Muslims in religious debate surely they have a lot of arguable issues to present. However nobody will win in a religious debate,” he said.
