Running down country not patriotism, minister says

(Bernama) – Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak today hit out at those claiming that they are criticising the prime minister and running down the country out of patriotism.

He said sabotaging Malaysia’s economy by frightening off foreign investors was also not an act of patriotism but of treason.

Delving further into the subject, he pointed out that most historians agreed that Adolf Hitler was also a patriot and that Nazism was the product of this patriotism, and yet 100 million people died because of this.

“If anyone wants to impress us with his or her patriotism, then it has to start with the spirit of ‘Negaraku’ and the Rukun Negara.

“You cannot be opposed to all this and have your own version and interpretation of patriotism,” Salled said in his latest blog posting.

Patriotism, he said, was best translated by action rather than expressing mere words.

“Patriotism is not by saying it but by what you do,” he added.