MALAYSIANS must resist attempts by certain parties to divide the country according to race and religion, Lim Guan Eng said in an Easter message today.

“All Malaysians should reject attempts by irresponsible elements to divide us by stigmatising Malaysians based on race or religion,” the DAP secretary-general said in a statement.

He said the basic tenets of the federal constitution which stipulates Islam as the religion of the land while guaranteeing religious freedom for non-Muslims must be protected and promoted.

“That these views are not shared by leaders of the current federal government is cause for great concern, particularly the suggestion of a PAS minister to gerrymander electoral constituencies that favour Malays and Muslims to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority,” he said, while referring to Khairuddin Aman Razali’s statement on realigning electoral boundaries to increase Malay-Muslim representatives in parliament.

Lim said gerrymandering constituencies with a religious or racial bias was unconstitutional and no different from racial or religious apartheid.

The Bagan MP said the constitution united all Malaysians and set out their rights and obligations.

“Malaysians are stronger together by respecting our differences and supporting each other’s rights and obligations. This respect is the basis for peace and harmony in our society.

“This togetherness is also the platform for economic prosperity for us and our children. 

“DAP greets all Christians, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, a Blessed Easter, in celebrating one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar.” – April 3, 2021.