RACE relations in the country are becoming more strained because some politicians are exploiting issues to rally support, said Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR president said this has resulted in the fate of less fortunate people being ignored while these politicians lived in luxury.  

“The political temperature has been rising because of disagreements over racial issues that should not be happening 60 years after independence,” Anwar said in speech at a PKR Chinese New Year event in George Town, Penang.

“When a politician is desperate, has lost grassroots support, he will use race (issues).”

“I want to tell the people, if we are influenced by this method, our lot will never be improved. All these great racial champions don’t care about poor people, who are lacking in terms of housing, lacking in food. Such a leader is just out for wealth and power.”

Anwar said racial politics were rejected by second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein.

“Racial politics have been rejected for a long time. If I recall, Tun Razak mentioned the problem and threat of the three Cs – communism, communalism and corruption.

“We have now experienced a change of government, but it (race politics) is still brought up.”

The Pakatan Harapan government has been faced with a litany of racial issues since it came to power in 2018.

Last year, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamd said the people should not be influenced by extremists who are not grateful for a peaceful country.

He said some parties were stirring up minor race and religious issues in a bid to divide Malaysia’s multiethnic population. – January 31, 2020.