Both BN and Pakatan Rakyat should make efforts for reform towards the eradication of race- and religion-based politics, Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said today.

NONE For as long as race- and religion-based political parties exist, there will always be those who seek to champion their respective ethnic and religious group, said Tan.

“It is near to impossible to eradicate racist and religious extremism if the political landscape in our country still permits the existence of race based or religious based political party,” said the youth leader.

“Now, in the interest of Malaysians, both BN and Pakatan Rakyat should jointly commit to drawing a roadmap to stop the existence of race and religious based political party within their coalition and this country.

“Such reforms should cover the amendments of the objectives in the constitution of such race and religious based political party,” he added.

Tan said the proposal for a race relations act to be put in place as well as the suggestion by opposition leader Lim Kit Siang for a nation-wide “Say No To Racism” campaign are commendable.

Both, however, are short-termed measures that would not solve the underlying problem.

“I believe that the root of the cause of growing racist and religious extremism is the political landscape in our country,” said Tan.

“It cannot be denied that there are currently no provisions under the law that prohibits the existence of race and religious based political party.

“However, that should not be a reason for any race and religious based party to reject reforms within itself for the interest of all Malaysians.”