Race and religion - Rafidah cautions gov't against bowing to narrow-minded groups
National Economic Action Council member Rafidah Aziz has urged Putrajaya not to bow to minority groups which harp on race and religion issues.
She said those who continuously utilised religion and race were a small group of Malaysians...
National Economic Action Council member Rafidah Aziz has urged Putrajaya not to bow to minority groups which harp on race and religion issues.
She said those who continuously utilised religion and race were a small group of Malaysians.
"Over the last decade, they showed a xenophobic tendency and colloquial instincts," she said when speaking at an economic forum in Putrajaya today.
She, however, noted that this minority group would influence others via social media and other means with their xenophobic and colloquial ideas.
"This is something we have to be cautious about as this kind of element has the potential to continuously stoke interracial and faith fissures," said the former minister.
"When faith becomes a pond for politics, that is when trouble starts. That is when the Taliban starts and that is when the people go into fighting mode, killing mode in the name of religion," she added.
She said the people were waiting to see if the government would tweak policies just to please narrow-minded groups.
"That is not the way to govern the country. You don't govern to please groups based on religion, race or creed. (But you need) to please everybody (in the country)," she added.
Although difficult, Rafidah said this is something the government must start doing.
The former minister also raised concern that xenophobic and colloquial elements have permeated into governance and policies.
She also cautioned the people that the country would not head anywhere if its citizens are split.
"Once Malaysians are split, it is the end of the story. Can we actually progress when there is split and fracture?" she added.
In this matter, Rafidah urged the people to see themselves as Malaysians first rather than focus on skin colour.
"I am a Malaysian of Malay descent. I am a Malaysian first, Malay second. Without Malaysia, I have no country.
"Even foreigners want to be citizens of Malaysia but Malaysian call ourselves other names. What is this?" she added.
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