KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — Ethnic Chinese businessmen have expressed their worry about the escalating racial politics in Malaysia, ahead of the pro-Malay rally planned by a martial arts group for Malaysia Day tomorrow.
In its report on Malaysia’s economic situation for the first half of the year released today, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) said “domestic political situation” was listed in the businessmen’s top four concerns for the first time.
“It’s all over the newspaper. Tomorrow is supposed to be Malaysia Day, we’re supposed to go out and enjoy it. All Malaysians are supposed to be together,” ACCCIM president Datuk Ter Leong Yap told reporters after launching the report.
“Instead we have some kind of gathering which is not so friendly. It’s not promoting racial harmony, that’s not very encouraging,” he added, referring to the “September 16 rally” gathering in the city tomorrow.
ACCCIM said ethnic Chinese businessmen have for the first time begun to express concern on the political situation of the country, adding that it is perceived to be among the chief causes behind the current economic slowdown.
“The government is thus advised to look into ways to resolve this matter expediently and in the most efficient and effective manner so as to restore public confidence in the governance systems and the institutions that are supposed to properly implement government policies and protect the people of Malaysia,” it said in a report of the survey.
“In turn, these effects would serve to better promote political and economic stability in the country. These efforts will invariably propel Malaysia towards economic recovery at a faster rate.”
Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (Pesaka), headed by Umno veteran and former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam, has announced that his Malay martial arts group is holding a gathering at Padang Merbok tomorrow.
The rally initially called on Malays to unite and counter the purportedly Chinese-dominated Bersih 4 rally on August 29 and 30, but has since been promoted as a gathering of the people without taking into account their racial background.
Mohd Ali has also disavowed the use of red T-shirts by attendees, in a bid to distance his organisation from the “Red Shirt” group that previously caused concern over its racially-tinged warnings.
However, another Umno grassroots leader Datuk Jamal Yunos who has been speaking on a “red shirt” gathering, has been reported saying he will lead a group to march through the city, including through Kuala Lumpur’s designated Chinatown in Petaling Street.
Jamal’s group is said to be meeting up outside the Kompleks Kraftangan Malaysia on Jalan Conlay, near the Petronas Twin Towers.
