KUCHING: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is urged to address the racial and religious issues happening in Malaya immediately before they escalate out of hand.
Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) chairman Datuk Dr John Lau Pang Heng said the association was concerned about the increasing racial and religious issues there.
“Our Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador has expressed the same concern. He said the police was very concerned about the raising of racial and religious issues despite Malaya’s 62-year history.
“Article 10 of the Federal Constitution guarantees that every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression and that all citizens have the right to assemble peacefully and without arms as well as have the right to form associations.
“The Federal Constitution is the most supreme law of our country that we need to honour and respect,” Lau said in a statement issued by SPA.
He further cited the recent Dong Jiao Zong case of having a dialogue with other like-minded associations, which was called off due to security and safety reasons.
“However, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Seni Khat Action Team (Sekat) organised the Jawi congress in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
“Why was Sekat allowed to proceed while Dong Jiao Zong’s proposed dialogue was aborted due to possible demonstration from the group opposed to Dong Ziao Zong’s intention?
“Federal Constitution Article 11 (1) highlighted that every person has the right to profess and practise his religion and Former Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz said that a person professing the religion needs to abide by the teaching, practice and principle of the religion,” he said.
Lau added that Malaysians living in Malaya tended to be busy with political issues which could retard economic growth.
“Let us forge ahead positively in Sarawak by encouraging our children and grandchildren to pursue educational excellence and productivity at the workplace.
“We have succeeded in increasing the minimum salary.
“Let us do away with sentiments of hate and focus on nation building to achieve Vision 2030.
“History has proven that a country with racial and religious issues and hatred cannot prosper,” he said.
“Look at Malaysia’s closest neighbour, Singapore, where everyone calls themselves Singaporean without reference to their ethnic backgrounds.”
Lau urged the nation’s leaders to accord top priority to the country’s economic growth and to arrest those playing up religious and racial issues.
“Let the leaders in Malaya learn from us in Sarawak where citizens live in unity and harmony without any racial and religious issues,” he said.
