Malaysia doesn't belong to just one race, MCA fumes

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MCA is fuming over the National Civics Bureau's (BTN) claim that there is nothing wrong with calling some Malaysians pendatang (newcomers).

Its deputy secretary-general Wee Jeck Seng said non-Malays contributed to the country’s development, and should not be regarded as anything but 'outright citizens of the country'.

“We are angered by Raja Arif (Raja Ali) who, as a senior civil servant, nevertheless fails to understand the true meaning of patriotism,” he said referring to the BTN director.

“This country belongs not to a single race but to all Malaysians. In addition, there is no single 'immigrant' ( pendatang ) race here.

“Malaysians who are born and raised here are Malaysian citizens. Our loyalty to Malaysia cannot be disputed, much less erased,” he said in statement.

Raja Arif last week said it is not wrong to call ethnic Chinese and Indian Malaysians pendatang because it is a historical fact.

Wee, who is also Tanjung Piai MP, however, disagrees.

“This is a historical fact; the spirit of moderation, inclusiveness and diversity was taken into account in the drafting and then enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” he said .

He added that Raja Arif was unprofessional and was going against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s declaration that no Malaysian should be labelled pendatang , Wee said.

“We sincerely advise Raja Arif, being the BTN director, to endeavour to find ways to educate the extremists, correct their thinking and inculcate national unity and harmony instead.”

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