Christian group calls for political reconciliation, Abim wants end to tensions

The Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) has called for all political parties to work toward political reconciliation by refraining from raising racial and religious issues to incite the public against each other.

This came after the Conference of Rulers urged leaders to not raise racial and religious issues with the purpose of incitement.

CCM said the institution of constitutional monarchy is a great blessing to the nation as the Council of Rulers had ameliorated and moderated the excesses of acrimonious party politics in Malaysia.

"The role and wise leadership especially of our king, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in promoting a politics of reconciliation and unity to replace toxic politics, has borne much fruit in preparing Malaysia for a phase of coalition politics," its secretary-general Jonathan Jesudas said in a statement today.

"In this respect, we welcome the decree of the Council of Rulers that political leaders are to cease and desist raising racial and religious issues to instigate or incite the public.

"The decrees of their Majesties to instil the spirit of equality among the people and to emphasise the Rukun Negara as the basis of Malaysian society are also timely and vital for the full functioning of the Malaysian polity under a unity government," he added.

Govt must restore harmony

Meanwhile, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz called on all political parties to cool things down.

"Based on the royal decree, Abim urges all parties to be responsible for alleviating the temperature of the country's politics, especially the religious and racial tensions that have caused anxiety among Malaysians since the recently concluded general election,” he said in a statement.

Faisal pointed out that the formation of this government is an opportunity for the country to return to value politics by rejecting the behaviour of riding on religious and racial sentiments that could threaten prosperity.

The responsibility for restoring harmony in the country is on the government, he said, through setting a key performance index (KPI) in portfolios and ministries related to national unity and integration.

"Identity should not be used to fan the racial flames via incitement and defamation that leads to hatred and is feared to lead to violence," he added.

Faisal stressed the importance of reforming the country's culture and way of thinking, and racial and religious identity should continue to be strengthened with the aim of developing the nation.

"Therefore, Abim urges all parties, especially political leaders, not to drag the community into a divisive stage just to gain support, but rather together put the nation-building agenda in front," he said.

Yesterday, the Conference of Rulers urged the new government to instil the "spirit of togetherness" among Malaysians.

The Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, who chaired the 260th Conference of Rulers, expressed hope that leaders would not raise racial or religious issues with the purpose of incitement.

It was reported that the police received a total of 3,483 reports related to GE15 between Nov 4 and 21.

A total of 515 investigation papers have been opened and 180 cases have been referred to the deputy public prosecutor, according to police GE15 operations director Hazani Ghazali.

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