Umno must play fair to woo non-Muslims: Masidi

Kota Kinabalu: Umno has to be fair to all irrespective of race and religion to attract non-Muslim Bumiputeras to the party.

Ranau Umno chief Datuk Masidi Manjun said this would make the people, particularly non-members, more prepared in supporting Umno.

"I agree with what Datuk John Ambrose had said. Hopefully it will open up the minds of non-Muslim Bumiputeras to see Umno as a party representing all the races.

"What matters is that people perceive you to be fair to all races. When this happens, they will give support despite being non-members," he said when commenting on a statement by the Penampang Umno chief that a Kadazandusun special task force be created in the division.

Ambrose said the special task force would be charged with attracting the Kadazandusun and Murut (KDM) ethnic group, including the Christians, to Umno aimed at strengthening the party.

Masidi, who is also Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, said to achieve this, the Umno leadership must be transparent and sincere.

"The people demand the highest degree of accountability from us. We need to comply with the demand that politicians lead by example," he said when opening a political seminar organised by Sabah UiTM here, Tuesday.

Masidi, a Dusun, said about one-third of the Umno members in Ranau were Dusun Christians, a reflection of political maturity among Sabahans.

He added the thinking that the general election result showed that racial politics in peninsula had reduced because some Chinese and Indians had opted to vote for Pakatan Rakyat was inaccurate.

"They claim that their respective race are better off now. Is this not racial?

"Let's not pretend that racial politics is not here. It is still strong only that it is less evident. We are still a long way off."

Masidi said only Sabah and Sarawak had managed to minimise race and religion in politics.

Bernama
29/10/08