“No one should twist the issue into a racial angle as if the government practices selective prosecution,” said the prime minister after chairing an Umno supreme council meeting.
He said there were short-text messages circulating which were spreading half-truths with the purpose of fanning racial tension.
The Umno president said these messages claim that the government actions favoured one race over another.
He stressed that action will be taken those making statement that reeks of racism, including those that leads to destructions on property regardless of whether it involves churches or suraus.
Earlier today, Najib said the ruling bloc will not stand for racist remarks from anyone.
This was the prime minister’s first response to a heated debate surrounding two school heads for the past two weeks.
Earlier this month, two Malay school principals in Johor and Kedah sparked a public furore when it was reported that they had made racist remarks aimed at their ethnic Chinese and Indian students .
Najib said his administration must adopt a “zero-tolerance” policy towards racism and will take immediate action against those found to have made racial slurs.
The school heads of SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra in Kulai and SMK Bukit Selambau in Sungai Petani have since apologised but various parties are still calling for stern disciplinary action against the duo, including sacking.
Last Friday, Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin broke his elegant silence on the issue and directed Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom to set up a task force and probe the incidents.
Alimuddin had previously claimed the matter settled.
The opposition has lashed out at Najib’s administration for its perceived tolerance of racism.
DAP’s Parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang today also demanded that the government start its “zero tolerance” policy on racism by going after Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia for allegedly fanning racial and religious tensions.
The Ipoh Timur MP pointed out that the paper today publishing a front-page photo- which turned DAP MP for Serdang, Teo Nie Ching visiting Surau Al-Huda, into a controversy.
The surau is in her Kajang constituency and she was invited to speak and to give out donations by officials.
Najib, however, today said he would leave it to Islamic officials to deal with the issue.
