Malaysia: Jail all those who harp on racial issues

The Star Online
3 December 2008

JOHOR BARU: The Ketuanan Melayu issue was among the hot topics at the state assembly yesterday with one assemblyman even asking for those raising racial matters to be jailed.

Ayub Jamil (BN-Rengit), when debating the 2009 state Budget, called on the Government to implement an Act or a ruling governing racial disputes.

Any individual that clearly questions the rights of a race or religion should be punished with jail or the equivalent, he said, adding that politicians too who question this should be banned from participating in any elections.

The implementation of such an Act would stem burgeoning racial disputes that were threatening to engulf the country.

Ayub said that a study conducted by an independent organisation had categorised Malaysia as having the highest political risk in Asia after India and Thailand.

“Today we have seen what has happened in India and Thailand.

“Something beyond our expectations may occur in the country if the sparks caused by racial disputes are not immediately extinguished,” he said, claiming that the cracks between the various races in the country were caused by leaders who wanted to be heroes in their own community.

Tahir Taat (BN-Bukit Serampang) meanwhile, said politicians, including members of the Barisan Nasional component parties, started harping on racial issues, though such issues did not crop up among rural folk.

The concept of Ketuanan Melayu, he said, did not mean that non-Malays were servants but it was merely a mark of respect for the Malay sultanate.

Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman (BN-Puteri Wangsa) argued that Malaysians should not renege on agreements made prior to the country’s independence, including the special rights accorded to the Malays.

To dispute the phrase Ketuanan Melayu was something sensitive and should not be raised, he said adding that politicians had the responsibility to maintain harmony among the races.