MCA chief tells PM of concern for 'dangerous racial flame'
MCA president Liow Tiong Lai in the presence of Prime Minister Najib Razak today voiced concern over the growing racial tension in the country.
Addressing the party’s annual general meeting today, Liow in his speech said: “Our nation is under threat.
“The tensions among the races have sparked a dangerous racial flame that will certainly be detrimental to our beloved nation.
“I am concerned, Dato’ Sri (Najib), very concerned. I am certain the rakyat are anxious, worried and upset about what is going on,” he said.
“Why so? This is because these sentiments of hatred, and extremism that plague our society are growing at an alarming pace.
“It is not only limited to politics, but it is beginning to spread into our everyday lives,” he said at the opening of the AGM officiated by Najib.
His carefully-worded speech made references to incidents at the Sept 16 red shirt rally, but the party chief did not name the culprits.
Hits out at Cina babi
He listed out the “irresponsible acts” that he said were threatening the country’s harmony and cultural diversity beginning with the “stomping on photographs of leaders”.
He followed with “highly derogatory words such as ‘ Cina babi ’, threats of slapping the Chinese community, and calls to abolish SJKC (Chinese vernacular schools)” that he said have “torn at the fabric of unity and harmony in our nation”.
“I condemn these harsh actions from both sides of the political divide,” he said without naming Bersih and the red shirt protestors, and urged the government to “take immediate action to address these matters”.
Liow then suggested for a solution to be implemented immediately to help curb the tension, by establishing a National Reconciliation Council for Political Governance, Religious Affairs and Unity.
The council, he said, will be directly involved in addressing the disagreements that arise as a result of differences in politics, religion and race.
"We envisage that the council will have an active role in resolving and finding solutions to the tensions that arises specifically from racial differences, religious differences as well as the growing socio-economic gap," he said.
MCA has become more vocal in criticising the anti-Chinese spurts with its youth chief Chong Sin Woon ( photo ) demanding an apology from deputy minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Tajuddin Abdul Rahman for his 'slap Chinese' remarks made recently.
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