Malaysia’s race relations are at their worse as najib is harping on racal issues to gain Malay votes

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — The DAP’s Lim Kit Siang urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today to pay attention to warnings that Malaysia’s race relations are at their worse.

The Ipoh Timor MP also said that Najib’s failure to act would jeopardise his 1 Malaysia concept which was introduced to promote national unity.

“Najib’s 1 Malaysia, which he promulgated as the signature theme of his premiership, is facing a critical test when more and more warnings are made inside and outside the country that racial and religious relations in Malaysia are at their worst since he became prime minister just short of two years ago,” said Lim (picture) in a statement today.

“Any independent, objective and dispassionate observer would agree with the analysis that despite all the massive publicity and propaganda about Najib’s 1 Malaysia policy to create a more united, vibrant, productive and competitive Malaysia, race and religious relations have never been more jeopardised in the past two years because of the unrelenting stoking of communal poison and religious intolerance by quarters which seem to enjoy immunity and impunity for such criminal incitements,” said the former opposition leader.

Lim cited an article by former US Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur John Malott last week who warned that racial and religious tensions are higher today than when Najib took office in 2009.

He said a similar observation was also made by political scientist Farish Noor who said at a forum yesterday that Malaysia was dangerously close to absolutely breaking down if racial politics was not kept in check.

“What is worse, those most guilty of sowing and escalating racial distrust and religious disharmony emanate from the ruling circles, particularly from Umno ranks and Umno’s official media, particularly Utusan Malaysia,” said Lim.

He questioned Najib’s failure to check intolerance in the Malay party and the silence of leaders from other Barisan Nasional (BN) parties.

“Is Najib the mastermind of such devious, hypocritical and hydra-headed 1 Malaysia campaign or is he captive and helpless to check such irresponsible politics of race and religion from Umno ranks?” asked Lim.

“Furthermore, why are the other leaders of the other Barisan Nasional component parties silent, indifferent or utterly impotent in the face of such relentless escalation of hate politics of race and religion from Umno ranks and media, which make a total mockery of Najib’s 1 Malaysia slogan and policy?” he asked.