DECEMBER 15 — We strongly frown at alleged remarks by former Chief Justice of Malaysia Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad that the Chinese community is waiting to grab power. We view this as an irresponsible attempt to instigate hatred among ordinary Malaysians, especially between Malays and non-Malays.

Tun Hamid is reported to have uttered such statement when he was delivering his opening speech at the Perkasa annual general meeting. He was quoted as saying that when the Malays are busy fighting each other, the Chinese, having controlled economy, education and other fields, see the opportunities to grab political power.

We are gravely disheartened and puzzled as to how a learned former CJ could be so ignorant on the methodology and importance of preserving harmonious inter-racial relationship in this country with multi-ethnicity, and could come out with such foolish statement to portray himself as a hero of his own race thereby proudly identifying himself with the infamous extremist group Perkasa?

We would like to remind Tun Hamid that we are all Malaysians and the rights of each and every ethnicity are well protected as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Therefore, there is no need for the Chinese to grab power from other races. Instead, everybody is working hard regardless of one’s skin colour, religion or cultural background towards a better Malaysia.

The learned Tun Hamid must also be enlightened that nobody should take the harmonious racial relationship we currently enjoy for granted and that the precious trust between races is not something that can be built overnight. He should have adequate wisdom to make good judgment on various social issues before saying out, to avoid controversy and social chaos.

The Chinese community’s contributions and sacrifices towards the nation cannot and should not be denied by any quarters, including Tun Hamid. So Tun Hamid, while you are trying to unite the Malays, please do not make scapegoats out of the Chinese and create even more racial discord.  

Datuk Chai Kim Sen


MCA Publicity Bureau Chairman


MCA Deputy National Organising Secretary

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.