MCA calls for political moderation, warns of anarchy
In his Wesak Day message, Dr Chua warns that Malaysia will be “a nation in anarchy if our tolerance barometer surpasses its limits on contentious issues.” — file pic KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — MCA warned politicians today anarchy and disaster would happen if racial and religious conflicts were to break the people’s tolerance of one another, calling for moderation as the country marked Lord Buddha's birthday or Wesak Day tomorrow.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the country had no place for “religious zealots” or instigators who were bent on stirring hatred among their fellow countrymen by weaving race and religion into politics.
“We must not allow ourselves to be entrapped in the politicisation of racial and religious issues. It is a recipe for disaster when races, religion and politics are put together. Malaysia cannot accept such a trend.
“We will be a nation in anarchy if our tolerance barometer surpasses its limits on contentious issues that have been woven out of context for political expediency,” he warned in his Wesak Day message to celebrants today.
Dr Chua’s message comes as the nation faces an ongoing squabble between politicians across the divide on a purported plot by the Christian minority to overthrow their Muslim leadership.
Over the weekend, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, leader of a prominent Malay rights group Perkasa, threatened to go to war with the Christian community should they proceed with their agenda to usurp Islam.
His threat comes even as the police are investigating the unsubstantiated reports of the purported conspiracy between DAP members and Christian leaders, which were first published in Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia earlier this month.
Christian leaders and DAP members have since denied the reports and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was even forced to host a meeting with leading religious figures to solve the issue but Ibrahim has insisted that the report is true.
Ibrahim’s statement has irked many non-Muslims politicians who are now demanding a full police investigation on all speeches made by the Pasir Mas MP in recent days.
But Home Minister and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein gave no indication that Ibrahim would be brought to task for his threat, telling reporters yesterday that the leader did not represent the Malay community in its entirety.
Dr Chua stressed today that no one religion is less important than another nor is one race more supreme than another.
He pointed out that all religions profess the importance of a commitment to peace and all Malaysians should share in the responsibility of fostering unity.
“No matter whom we pray to, we should have common goals of maintaining peace and order in the country.
“We certainly look forward to a country that is closely knit where people of all faiths and religions fit into one society that is founded on the premise of goodwill, co-operation, understanding, cohesiveness, multi-culturalism and tolerance,” he said.
Dr Chua pointed out that it is cultural, racial and religious diversity that imparts Malaysia with a certain uniqueness.
“And the fact that people of different faiths can live side by side harmoniously and sit at the same table to have their meals together is a reflection of the nation’s 1 Malaysia’s strength,” he said.
Such a strength, he added, should be preserved to help make Malaysia stand out from the rest of the world.
“Other parts of the world are living in environments of hostility, unrest and amidst civil wars while Malaysia can be exemplary to those nations that are still trying to come to terms with peace,” he said.
