Race relations worsened under Pakatan, says analyst 

Noel Achariam Noel Achariam Updated 6 years ago · Published on 8 Jan 2020 7:00AM · 4 Comments

Dr Denison Jayasooria told a forum last night that Pakatan Harapan leaders should stop blaming the previous government and start serving the people. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, January 8, 2020.

RACE relations under Pakatan Harapan have worsened in the last two years and this is because of a lack of political leadership and party cooperation among PH coalition members, said political analyst Dr Denison Jayasooria. 

The situation is so bad that even Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador had to step in, urging politicians not to raise the political climate in the country, Denison told a forum yesterday.

“They should not stir racial and religious issues that can undermine the country’s harmony and instead focus on amicable solutions,” he said at the Inter-ethnic trust deficit in Malaysia forum in Kuala Lumpur.

Hamid said on Monday politicians can help police by not stoking racial tensions that could disrupt public order. 

Those using race and religious issues for political gain are burdening police and wasting their time, he said.

Denison said politicisation of issues is the heart of the problem.

“Many politicians across the political parties tend to champion their own agenda or look at issues at a very politicised angle. 

“Some who have been in the government before never spoke like that (racial issues) but now, as the opposition, they do. 

“It is not looking at issues in an objective rational way. Politicians must have ethical and moral commitment.”

Parliamentarians on both sides should learn to respect each other, Denison said. 

“They should stop hitting out at each other, saying that it was the fault of the previous government. They government has changed. They (PH MPs) should stick to the facts.

“Even the ministers should be apolitical as not only serve their party but all people.”

Opposition politicians also need to tone done as they are disrespectful, he said. 

On the issue of International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), Denison said PH lawmakers and the opposition must engage with the public when there is resistance to an idea. 

“They should not just bulldoze the idea, but to pursue it. It’s all about winning public opinion. To engage people who disagree.”

Malaysia is among the two countries out 57 that has not ratified ICERD. 

The ICERD issue blew up on October 26, 2018 when Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy said the federal government would ratify six human rights treaties, including ICERD, in the first quarter of next year.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September that year where he said the new government would acknowledge the remaining instruments of the world body on human rights protection.

Many quarters, including Malay groups and opposition parties, opposed the ratification of ICERD on grounds it would undermine Malay rights and Islam as enshrined in the federal constitution. – January 8, 2020.

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Comments

  • Thank you for letting us know what we already know. One step further we can say we know the devil behind all this. When the PM of Malaysia welcomes Zakir Naik, a known felon who demonstrates why India does not want him anymore ( as he will stir race relations now even more after the citizenship laws) is given VIP status in Malaysia, allow with impunity to berate and ridicule Indian and Chinese patriotism in Malaysia, arrest and detain under those draconian laws that was to have been repealed Indian politicians-treating them like
    terrorists, saying things like "Chinese parents dont like to allow their children to play with Malay children", starts pushing Bahasa Melayu/Arab ( as opposed to Bahasa malaysia) onto Non-Muslims school children-he( DR M) knew that this will raise opposition-and with this he can say, Indians are terrorists, Chinese dont want to respect the National language.
    Rather then being a PM for all Malaysian-DR M has now become the leader of islam and Muslims all over the world. When you cant solve problems in Malaysia, why do you think you can solve decade long fights..rather centuries fight between Muslims? Sunni and Shiite, show that islam is at war with itself and in flames....so there was no integration of races, but a push for hatred and divisiveness...the devil is DR Mahathir.

    He must go if we want a Malaysian Malaysia-not a Pakistani type nation with Indian Muslims running the show.

    Posted 6 years ago by Dax Muhammed · Reply

  • Race n religion are bread n butter issue for some politicians. They are only good in provoking their respective supporters and they only know to do it. In the past it was under control as the then opposition spoke based on common sense. Unfortunately, the opposition bloc now does not carry themselves as an opposition instead as a racist. Government need to go hard on those who are using race n religion for political gain. Remove them from political platform.

    Posted 6 years ago by Anak Malaysia · Reply

  • All stirred up by Umno and PAS to gain support. They are so desperate and they can lie and spin.

    Posted 6 years ago by Penganalisa L · Reply

  • Partly also because the same race and religion based political attitudes and practices of the 70-80's are being brought back. They do not fit in the aspirations for a New Malaysia. Many are looking forward to more changes, including the top seat.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply