Malaysia army weighs in on racial slur saga
It calls for govt action against those who incite hatred among the races
By S JAYASANKARAN IN KUALA LUMPUR
Email this article
Print article
Feedback
IN an unusual break from military protocol, the chief of Malaysia's armed forces called on the government yesterday to take stern action against anyone inciting racial hatred.
Describing it as a 'national security threat', Abdul Aziz Zainal said: 'Racial issues are the most feared by the security forces, as it can lead to chaos.'
It was a startling statement coming from the military, given that it has rarely strayed into the civilian and political arena.
The nuance was not lost on former trade minister Rafidah Aziz, the head of the women's wing of the dominant United Malays National Organisation (Umno).
'When the top brass of the army talks like that, it means it's very serious,' she said in an appeal to politicians of all stripes to refrain from hurling derogatory comments at one another.
The latest statements underscore the heightened political tension in Malaysia amid growing racial bickering between component parties of the governing Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front, coalition.
Ironically, the Opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim has little to do with the furore - all the accusations are being hurled by BN members. Even so, tension has been catalysed by fears that Anwar could topple the government by inducing mass defections from the BN.
0 ? blnMac = true:blnMac = false;
if (blnMac == true) {
document.write('');
}
//-->
src='http://ads.asia1.com.sg/js.ng/Params.richmedia=yes&site=tbto&sec=btointhenews&cat1=bnews&cat2=btointhenewsart&size=300X250'>
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi made a stand of sorts yesterday when he told reporters that Umno's supreme council would take 'immediate stern action' against Ahmad Ismail, the Umno division chief at the centre of a racial storm in Penang.
Mr Abdullah revealed this after a BN Supreme Council meeting at which the two Chinese-based BN parties - Gerakan and the Malaysian Chinese Association - had asked for Mr Ahmad to be punished for calling the Chinese 'squatters' and 'immigrants' during a recent by-election. Mr Abdullah said that the BN 'totally rejected Mr Ahmad's statements'.
Despite orders from the Umno leadership, Mr Ahmad refused to apologise. Instead, he compounded the matter by likening Malaysian Chinese to American Jews 'who not only dominate economically but want to dominate politically'.
'Consider this a warning from the Malays,' he said in an outburst on Monday night. 'The patience of the Malays has a limit. Do not push us against the wall for we will be forced to turn back and push the Chinese for our own survival.'
Following this, the Penang units of Gerakan and the MCA announced the severance 'of all ties' with Umno Penang.
In a separate development that may not bode well for beleaguered PM Abdullah, former premier Mahathir Mohamad will return to Umno, the party he quit in a huff three months ago. According to Sanusi Junid, a close Mahathir ally, the former leader will endorse Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's candidacy for Umno president.
Dr Mahathir, who remains influential in Umno, could be crucial in getting enough nominations for Tengku Razaleigh to challenge Mr Abdullah. Some tough battles loom ahead.
No comments:
Post a Comment