Don’t call them immigrants, says Najib

comments     Bernama     Published     Updated

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has urged the people to avoid making sensitive racial statements that could hurt one another.

He said if all parties could do this, Malaysia could emerge as a "Ray of Hope" among the developing countries.

"We must consider the feelings of every race in this country; avoid using words that are sensitive just to spite. Like the Indian community who have contributed much to this country, do not call them immigrants.

"Because if we call them immigrants, we do not consider them as our countrymen, as having a citizenship to which they are entitled," he said at the Deepavali Open House 2015 held at Dataran Kulim today.

Also present were his wife Rosmah Mansor and MIC president Dr S Subramaniam.

"Similarly, don't use words that could agitate Muslims in the country," said the prime minister.

He also pointed out that racial and religious conflicts not only happen in developing countries but also in advanced countries including America and Europe.

"Even developed countries have racial profiling as seen in America and Europe. The process of nation-building must continue from one generation to the next," he said.

He said if the current generation held to the fundamentals outlined by the nation's founders according to the social contract and the federal constitution, then Malaysia would surely be successful.

On the new MIC line-up, the prime minister hoped it would work more effectively in serving the Indian community in the country.

The new MIC leadership under Subramaniam who is also health minister has been described as a breath of fresh air in the struggle to empower the Indian community in the country.

The Indian community, he said, had developed rapidly through fair, equal and inclusive policies implemented by the government under BN.

Meanwhile, Najib said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Malaysia soon and "hopefully, he would see how the Indian community here, although merely 7.5 percent of the population, could still play a significant role in the country".

Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, Tourism and Culture Deputy Minister Mas Ermieyati and state government officials were also at the event.

- Bernama



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