Malaysian leaders including those who have retired should focus on enhancing unity among the nation’s diverse communities and not play up racial issues.
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said results of the March 8 polls showed that Malaysians wanted unity instead of being divided by race, religion or political creed.“We saw voters voting as one, regardless of race and religion. We had Malays, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan voters rising above their ethnic stereotype and voting as Malaysians,” he said.
Lim said that 50 years after the nation’s independence, Malaysians should be more “Malaysian-minded” instead of retreating into their “communal selves.”
The veteran politician was commenting on former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s remarks in Johor on Saturday that Malays stood to lose much in the new political environment where non-Malays were unafraid to make demands.
Dr Mahathir told the crowd of some 1,000 in Johor Baru that if Malays keep quiet they will lose their rights and other races will take over.
Lim said the former prime minister who had introduced the Bangsa Malaysia concept now appeared to be backtracking on his stand.
“We should be talking more about Bangsa Malaysia rather than Malay, Chinese or Indian rights,” he said.
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