KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — Malaysia is not in danger of experiencing another racial riot like the bloody clashes on May 13, 1969, as Islam and the Malays are not under attack, DAP’s vice-chairman Teresa Kok said today.
Kok was responding to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s remarks last Friday that there could be a repeat of the May 13 racial riots if ties between the country’s ethnic communities continued to be strained.
But Kok said a racial clash is unlikely as there is currently no “tension” between the different ethnic groups in Malaysia.
“I do not believe that Malaysia’s ethnic relations is on the verge of erupting into racial clashes or riots for two main reasons, firstly, Malays and Islam are not under any attack as portrayed by some Malay extremist groups and secondly, there is no feeling of tension among the races,” the Seputeh MP said in a statement.
“But if the deputy prime minister has got intelligence reports which can back his remarks, he should reveal these reports and more importantly, he should let Malaysians know what steps are taken by the government to stop such a possible repeat,” she added.
In her criticism of Muhyiddin’s words, the federal lawmaker said the “most shocking and irresponsible” element of his remarks was when he allegedly pointed fingers at the non-Malays when expressing concern over purported insults against the Malays and Muslims.
She also said that it would be the “failure” of the Barisan Nasional-led (BN) federal government if Malaysia “has reached a point where a repeat of May 13 is possible”.
Last week, Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia reported Muhyiddin as saying in Johor that ethnic tensions that were allowed to simmer would lead to unrest when the various communities start to eye each other with suspicion.
“Because of that, there exists all kinds of assumptions when ethnic ties become strained and unhealthy. This can cause that event and I do not want to mention the particular date,” the BN deputy chairman was quoted as saying.
Muhyiddin did not mention the date specifically but Utusan Malaysia inserted May 13, 1969 to his quote in parentheses.
Yesterday, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy challenged the Umno deputy president to “bring May 13”.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday that Muhyiddin’s remark was merely a “reminder” that unity in Malaysia does not come easy and that all Malaysians should work together towards a better nation.
Today, Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong similarly said that Muhyiddin’s statement should not be misconstrued to take on a violent meaning as the Umno deputy president was merely “reminding” Malaysians to stay united.
Kok today also took aim at Muhyiddin’s alleged statement yesterday that “various quarters” are taking advantage of Muslim disunity to threaten the position of Islam in Malaysia, saying that the remark was “equally shocking”.
“Such a statement can actually have the impact of causing racial misunderstanding and inciting public anger and as the nation’s deputy Prime Minister; he should be more responsible and careful with his comments,” she said, saying that Muhyiddin should also disclose those who had allegedly questioned the position of Islam if he has evidence.
According to the New Straits Times, Muhyiddin said yesterday that he was worried about the divisions among Muslims due to differing opinions on matters related to Islam, saying: “Such disunity will enable outsiders to take advantage and threaten the position of Islam as the federal religion”.
