Imminent Slide to Oblivion with Racial Politics
Prime Minister Najib Razak has come out strongly to denounce racism, saying that the federal government should adopt the policy of zero tolerance on the issue, with special focus on those who try to incite racial hatred.
I applaud the PM for his statement and would like to hold him accountable for what he has just said at the BN Youth Lab townhall meeting.
He should be commended for his courage to make a stand on racism despite relentless criticism from leaders in his communal party including Dr Mahathir, individuals, organisations and publications supported by his party. Dr Mahathir had went as far as saying NEM and 'meritocracy' is a conspiracy against the Malay supremacy and survival.
Worse, non-Malay political parties such as MCA has started to manipulate race and religion to stamp their own popularity slide too. MCA's president Chua Soi Lek is trying to pit DAP against PAS and its Islamic agenda.
Here is the challenge, a real political will to end racism in politics, policy making and public institutions including the media. Can the PM walk his talk on weeding out racism?
Is his zero tolerance for racism includes leaders in his party and organisations and individuals aligned to his party? Can his party give a firm deadline to turn BN into a real multiracial political coalition cum national party?
Can he direct his civil servants and leaders to focus on helping the poor and needy ones instead of focusing on race and religion?
Is he willing to instruct the formulation of anti-racism act to be passed in parliament to end all racial discrimination?
For now, we will hold him to his commitment to denounce racism and to punish those who incite racial hatred.
Utusan, Ibrahim Ali, Ahmad Ismail, Ridhuan Tee, Chua Soi Lek, teachers, civil servants and those in the opposition camp too should be careful not to incite racial hatred.
I hope that PM's zero tolerance is not only referred to those who are not on the same side of his political equat! ion.
See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?
I applaud the PM for his statement and would like to hold him accountable for what he has just said at the BN Youth Lab townhall meeting.
He should be commended for his courage to make a stand on racism despite relentless criticism from leaders in his communal party including Dr Mahathir, individuals, organisations and publications supported by his party. Dr Mahathir had went as far as saying NEM and 'meritocracy' is a conspiracy against the Malay supremacy and survival.
Worse, non-Malay political parties such as MCA has started to manipulate race and religion to stamp their own popularity slide too. MCA's president Chua Soi Lek is trying to pit DAP against PAS and its Islamic agenda.
Here is the challenge, a real political will to end racism in politics, policy making and public institutions including the media. Can the PM walk his talk on weeding out racism?
Is his zero tolerance for racism includes leaders in his party and organisations and individuals aligned to his party? Can his party give a firm deadline to turn BN into a real multiracial political coalition cum national party?
Can he direct his civil servants and leaders to focus on helping the poor and needy ones instead of focusing on race and religion?
Is he willing to instruct the formulation of anti-racism act to be passed in parliament to end all racial discrimination?
For now, we will hold him to his commitment to denounce racism and to punish those who incite racial hatred.
Utusan, Ibrahim Ali, Ahmad Ismail, Ridhuan Tee, Chua Soi Lek, teachers, civil servants and those in the opposition camp too should be careful not to incite racial hatred.
I hope that PM's zero tolerance is not only referred to those who are not on the same side of his political equat! ion.
See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?
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