Soi Lek: Anti-apostasy rally dangerous

Teoh El Sen | October 19, 2011

The MCA president says religious and racial harmony in the country is fragile and people should not take this for granted.

SERI KEMBANGAN: Voicing his objection to the anti-apostasy public rally, MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek warned that racial and religious harmony can be easily destroyed.

He was referring to the Himpunan Sejuta Ummah (Gathering of a Million Muslims) to be held this Saturday in Shah Alam.

Asked if the rally, planned by a coalition of Muslim NGOs, should go on, Chua said: “Whether it should go on or not, I think the police would know what to do. But personally I feel that
there should not be any public rally.”

“I would say that we should reduce any form of racial tension, any form of religious activity that would contribute to suspicion among all races in the country and we should not take for granted the
religious and racial harmony.

“It is a very fragile harmony which can easily be destroyed by irresponsible people,” he told reporters at the signing ceremony for the 3rd World Chinese Economic Forum here.

Chua said the “number one” priority should be for all Malaysians to “accept the fact that this is a multi-racial and multi-religous society.”

“While all of us have the freedom to preach the religion we want. All Malaysians should be sensitive to the fact that religion is a sensitive issue,” he added.

Asked if there was a way to resolve tensions between communities, especially religious groups, Chua said if any community wanted to impose its religion on others, “there would be tension”.

The anti-apostasy rally was organised over the claims of increasing attempts to convert Muslims to Christianity.

Yesterday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang announced that the party would not participate in the anti-apostasy rally as the organisers said their event would not involve political parties.

Rally organiser Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid had told a newsportal that the event was not linked to any political parties.

Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin, senator Ezam Mohd Noor and Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali
had no role in the event, he had said.

‘Gutter politics’

Meanwhile, on accusations against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over his son being involved in a molestation case, Chua called it gutter politics.

“Well I said that in this country, since 308 (the 2008 general election), everyone is practicing gutter politics. This comes from both sides of the political divide.

“No one can stand on moral high grounds,” he said.

On the calls for the MCA president to face off with DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang in the next general election, Chua said he would announce his candidacy when the time comes.

“As the leader of a leading a political party, I have my own opinion and I don’t need the DAP to advise or challenge me. I won’t let others challenge me, or sway me with their arguments,” he added.