Nga: Unesco status for Chinese new villages not a challenge to Malay rights

Nga Kor Ming has rubbished claims that the rights of the Malays and bumiputera are challenged by the proposal to nominate Chinese new villages in Selangor for a Unesco World Heritage Site status.

The housing and local government minister stressed that the idea is still at the proposal stage, and thus, should not be turned into a racial issue.

“The proposal is not a zero-sum game. As mentioned before, the ministry’s philosophy is based on the Rukun Negara, and I would like to walk the talk.

“Action speaks louder than words. Through 2023, the ministry carried out a lot of initiatives for people across the racial and religious barrier,” Nga said in a statement today.

He then cited the various programmes held by his ministry to help the hardcore poor, to fix and upgrade non-Muslim houses of worship, and to upgrade government quarters, among others.

Yesterday, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari urged against the proposal being turned into a racial issue.

This was after Perikatan Nasional MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal questioned the proposal.

Elaborating, Nga said he welcomed proposals from any quarters to nominate any Malay kampung or other locations to be potentially turned into a Unesco World Heritage Site.

“Therefore, allegations that I, or the government are challenging the rights of the Malays and the Bumiputera are illogical and untrue.”

PAS MP: I raised Chinese new village issue over 'security concern'

LETTER | Govt should host CNY celebrations in new villages

COMMENT | 'Multiculturalism' weaponised in our culture wars