KOTA KINABALU, Nov 6 ― Several leaders of Barisan Nasional (BN) components here are concerned that the federal administration’s failure to treat racism in the peninsula seriously could affect support for the ruling pact in Sabah.
The leaders said BN’s central leadership must appear multiracial and multireligious in all that it does, which means being more proactive when handling party members who spew racist comments or participate in any racially-charged event.
One example of racial incitement, said Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Teo Chee Kang, is the recent comment by former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Ali Rustam on going to “war” to save Malay dignity.
“I don’t see how Malays as a community can be threatened in view of the fact that they are the majority in the country.
“Leaders should not be overzealous in championing their own community’s interest at expense of national interest,” he told the Malay Mail Online.
Speaking in his capacity as president of the National Silat Federation (Pesaka), the group that organised the September 16 “red shirts” rally in Kuala Lumpur, Ali said over a week ago that his group was ready to face war to protect Malay rights and dignity.
He also defended the objectives of the mass rally, which was marred by sporadic outbreaks of racism, and said it was held to show there were still those who wanted the Malay race, Islam and the country's leaders defended.
Teo said he was disappointed that despite numerous reports of racially-charged incidents in the peninsula, some of which he noted were even investigated, few have resulted in prosecution.
He agreed with Gerakan’s call for the establishment of a special disciplinary board in BN, saying this was a necessary mechanism to deal with delinquent leaders.
But he stressed, however, the creation of such a panel would only work with strong political will.
“I am in favour of the idea of a disciplinary board within the BN, to take care of matters relating to party discipline. But such a board, without the political will, would not achieve its purpose,” said Teo, who is also Sabah Special Tasks Minister under the Chief Minister’s Department.
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) secretary-general Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin agreed that political will was necessary to make sure Malaysia maintains its image as a moderate nation.
The former state assistant finance minister said it was imperative that the government be seen as impartial to all races and religions when taking action against those involved in any racial incident.
“Do not discriminate over what race, religion, place in society and political affiliation that someone or group of people belongs to. All it needs is political will from the top leadership in the country,” he told Malay Mail Online.
Mojuntin also claimed that the recent tensions in the peninsula have made waves in Sabah via the social media, creating a negative perception of BN and leading to a slide in support for the pact.
He said Sabahans, even in the rural areas have caught wind of the unrest in west Malaysia and were worried that the harmony that exists in the state will be jeopardised.
“One only has to pay a little bit of attention to what is exchanged in whatsapp groups, the social media, in the coffee shops and the grassroots in general.
“The perception that is generated is not enough is done to curb racial and religious bigotry. And if anything is done, it appears to be quite discriminatory. In other words, action is taken against some but not others,” said Mojuntin.
