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Key Highlights
When citizens become enemies
Umno raises the stakes for MCA, MIC
Building a bridge PAS keeps torching
When citizens become enemies
As communal animosity rises and bigotry becomes increasingly normalised, with politicians appearing more intent on sowing division than building bridges, an interfaith group has issued a poignant message as the nation prepares to celebrate its 69th Merdeka.
“No Malaysian should ever be made to feel like an enemy simply because of his or her race or religion,” stressed the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).
Likewise, the council said no religion should be weaponised for political gain or used to cast suspicion on fellow citizens.
MCCBCHST stressed that political or ideological differences must never be exploited to portray entire communities as threats to one another.
Instead of uniting Malaysians to confront the real challenges facing the nation, the council said too much of the national conversation was being consumed by manufactured controversies over race and religion.
It lamented that precious time and energy were being diverted from combating corruption, strengthening institutions, improving education, creating quality jobs, enhancing healthcare, addressing the rising cost of living, and ensuring that every Malaysian has the opportunity to succeed.
MCCBCHST called on political leaders to reject race- and religion-based campaigns and instead compete through ideas, integrity, competence and policies that benefit all Malaysians. It also urged law enforcement authorities to act firmly and impartially against anyone who incites hatred, regardless of status or political affiliation.
The council further urged religious leaders to promote compassion, mutual respect and understanding, while calling on Malaysians to reject fear, misinformation and slander and refuse to be drawn into divisive politics.
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Umno raises the stakes for MCA, MIC
MCA and MIC appear to have been dealt a losing hand in the high-stakes game of political poker, and a DAP lawmaker was quick to pounce.
Soon after Malaysiakini published its interview with Umno supreme council member Razlan Rafii, who said his party had no qualms about supporting PAS’ plan to eradicate gambling, DAP’s Chong Zhemin demanded that MCA and MIC show their cards.
The Kapar MP said the issue was no longer confined to PAS, but had evolved into a serious policy question for any future BN-PN government.
“Will MCA and MIC oppose a nationwide gambling ban? Will they insist that existing lawful activities for non-Muslims remain protected?
“Will they make this a non-negotiable condition before joining any future BN-PN government? Or will they accept the PAS agenda once BN and PN have enough seats to form the government?” he asked.
Pointing to MCA and MIC’s claim that the parties could represent the interests of Chinese, Indian, and other non-Muslim Malaysians within BN, Chong said that position must now be tested against a real policy issue.
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Building a bridge PAS keeps torching
Hamzah Zainudin’s fledgling political outfit, Wawasan Negara, is on a mission – to build a bridge between non-Malays and Perikatan Nasional. But there is one problem: PAS, whose leaders appear hell-bent on burning that bridge to the ground.
Inspired by Warisan’s feat in Sabah, Wawasan information chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, however, conceded that the situation is different across the South China Sea.
According to him, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, whom some regard as the chief arsonist behind the charred bridge, also recognised the need for a new multiracial party to complement PAS within the PN coalition.
“Malay voter support for PN has been proven since the 15th general election, but that support appears to have reached a certain level, requiring a new strategy if the coalition wants to form the government in Putrajaya.
“One of Hadi’s advice to (Wawasan president) Hamzah was that a new party should be established to complement PAS within PN - a party that is multiracial and multiethnic,” he said.
At one point, PAS enjoyed significant support among non-Muslims when it was part of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition with DAP, which has since become its arch-nemesis.
The bitter political rivalry has also fuelled PAS’ push for greater unity among Malay-Muslim parties, ostensibly to safeguard Malay and Islamic interests from what it portrays as growing threats to their position, particularly from DAP.
DAP, in turn, accuses PAS of peddling a false narrative to sow fear among Malay voters.
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