Wednesday July 23, 2008

Kit Siang: Why Malay unity and not Malaysian unity

PETALING JAYA: The three dialogues between Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and PAS decision makers raise the question why the Prime Minister was focusing on Malay unity rather than on Malaysian unity, DAP national advisor Lim Kit Siang wrote in his blog.

“Has he forgotten another of his pledges, to be the Prime Minister of all Malaysians and not just of any race?” asked Lim.

He was commenting on the three discussions that Abdullah held with PAS leaders, which began right after the general election in March.

Among the PAS leaders Abdullah met were deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Terengganu commissioner Datuk Mustapha Ali and Shah Alam MP Khalid Abd Samad.

Lim alleged Malaysian nation building had gone backwards and that the Vision 2020 objective of a “Bangsa Malaysia” was increasingly frowned upon as a misplaced target.

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UMNO-PAS “Malay Unity” talks
Lim Kit Siang

The Federal Government spent RM100 million for the 50th Merdeka anniversary celebrations last year. For what?

It should be to celebrate half-a-century of nationhood to build a multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-lingual nation where our diversity is the strongest national asset and to chart out the path to achieve the Vision 2020 objective of a Bangsa Malaysia in the remaining 13 years.

But Malaysian nation-building has gone backwards and the Vision 2020 objective of a “Bangsa Malaysia” is increasingly frowned upon as a misplaced target.

The recent revelation by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that there has been three Umno-PAS talks to address issues of Muslim and Malay unity since the March 8, 2008 general election has raised to the fore the question why the pre-eminent issue bothering the Prime Minister is still that of Malay unity rather than Malaysian unity. MORE…