Anwar appeals for moderation in reaction to racial issues
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today said the people must help to diffuse tensions in dealing with issues linked to race and religion.
His remarks followed recent claims that SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1 had contravened the Federal Constitution by decorating the school for the upcoming Chinese New Year...
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today said the people must help to diffuse tensions in dealing with issues linked to race and religion.
His remarks followed recent claims that SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1 had contravened the Federal Constitution by decorating the school for the upcoming Chinese New Year.
"In general we have to help keep things in moderation... because sometimes, for example, the Jawi issue, an extreme reaction is not good.
"On that same note, this is about Chinese New Year celebrations," Anwar told reporters when met after an international conference in Kuala Lumpur.
"As Malaysians in general, why don't we greet them, make them happy.
"So for me, I hope that there will be a compromise in the situation," the Port Dickson MP said.
Anwar said this when asked for comments on a reported threat by Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia vice-president Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz to report the school for its Chinese New Year decorations.
On social media, the lawyer claimed that he received complaints from parents, who felt it was an attempt to propagate non-Islamic beliefs to Muslim students.
Since then, ministers and deputy ministers have largely condemned the move to stop the school from putting up the decorations, pointing out that Chinese New Year is a cultural celebration rather than religious in nature.
Separately, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said he was informed that the school had earlier removed the Chinese New Year decorations upon the advice of the police.
He said the action taken by the police was not endorsed by the cabinet.
"I cannot accept the police's action asking a school, which is 80 percent non-Malays, to take down the decorations.
"The police actually should not receive instructions from outsiders who are the government such as those who want to play up this unhealthy sentiment.
"I advise the police, if it happens in schools, it is under the Education Ministry, not outsiders," Lim said.
He said there is no reason for Chinese New Year decorations to be banned when it has been allowed all this while.
Lim also said he personally does not understand the issue as Chinese New Year decorations are not related to religion.
"Chinese New Year celebrations have nothing to do with religion, it is to celebrate the new year and we cannot accept the action from some parties who try to play up the sentiments regarding decorations until the decorations have to be removed," he said.
Additional reporting by GERALDINE TONG.
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