Laporan Media di Straits Times, Singapore
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2006
MM Lee only defending his race as KL minister was doing, says Keadilan
The Straits Times
IT WAS strange that Malaysian politicians were reacting so emotionally to remarks made by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth vice-chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin.
The opposition leader said it was common for regional leaders to make comments in their private capacity about other countries, reported the Malaysiakini website yesterday.
In fact, Singapore's MM Lee only did what Umno Youth chief and Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had been doing - defending his race, Mr Shamsul said in a statement.
He urged Datuk Seri Hishammuddin to think a little before pointing his finger at others, recalling that the minister had said it was not a problem if someone struggled for his race, 'even to the extent of waving keris or kung-fu swords'.
Mr Shamsul added: 'Our leaders, too, have often criticised Singapore's restrictive democracy and its treatment of racial minorities. Similarly, it is not unusual for leaders of other countries to express disapproval of certain Malaysian policies.'
Regardless of what MM Lee's motive might be, Mr Shamsul said Malaysian leaders should not react emotionally and stir up racial passions.
'Why is it after more than four decades of independence, Malaysian nationhood is still not tangible? The most alarming thing is that a large proportion of Malaysians still perceive themselves as being marginalised,' he said.
'By Umno's own admission, some Malays in Penang feel marginalised. Many other communities also experience the feeling. And there are marginalised groups such as squatters, the poor and the disabled,' he added.
Mr Shamsul said Malaysian politicians should not be too preoccupied with MM Lee's words but concern themselves with tackling marginalisation.
'Leaders of all parties... have a duty to find solutions. This cannot be achieved through a racial approach.'
PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali said there were government policies that discriminated against people of different races. But what was worse was the victimisation of the poor and weak of all races.
'If you ask the non-Malay millionaires, they will not say that they have been marginalised. In fact, they get assistance from the ruling elite.
'But why can't non-Malay academics be appointed as vice-chancellors in local universities, or brilliant non-Malay students be given scholarships?' he asked in a statement.
However, Dr Syed Husin also urged MM Lee to look at his own backyard where a majority of Malays were in dire straits, according to Malaysiakini
MM Lee only defending his race as KL minister was doing, says Keadilan
The Straits Times
IT WAS strange that Malaysian politicians were reacting so emotionally to remarks made by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth vice-chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin.
The opposition leader said it was common for regional leaders to make comments in their private capacity about other countries, reported the Malaysiakini website yesterday.
In fact, Singapore's MM Lee only did what Umno Youth chief and Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had been doing - defending his race, Mr Shamsul said in a statement.
He urged Datuk Seri Hishammuddin to think a little before pointing his finger at others, recalling that the minister had said it was not a problem if someone struggled for his race, 'even to the extent of waving keris or kung-fu swords'.
Mr Shamsul added: 'Our leaders, too, have often criticised Singapore's restrictive democracy and its treatment of racial minorities. Similarly, it is not unusual for leaders of other countries to express disapproval of certain Malaysian policies.'
Regardless of what MM Lee's motive might be, Mr Shamsul said Malaysian leaders should not react emotionally and stir up racial passions.
'Why is it after more than four decades of independence, Malaysian nationhood is still not tangible? The most alarming thing is that a large proportion of Malaysians still perceive themselves as being marginalised,' he said.
'By Umno's own admission, some Malays in Penang feel marginalised. Many other communities also experience the feeling. And there are marginalised groups such as squatters, the poor and the disabled,' he added.
Mr Shamsul said Malaysian politicians should not be too preoccupied with MM Lee's words but concern themselves with tackling marginalisation.
'Leaders of all parties... have a duty to find solutions. This cannot be achieved through a racial approach.'
PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali said there were government policies that discriminated against people of different races. But what was worse was the victimisation of the poor and weak of all races.
'If you ask the non-Malay millionaires, they will not say that they have been marginalised. In fact, they get assistance from the ruling elite.
'But why can't non-Malay academics be appointed as vice-chancellors in local universities, or brilliant non-Malay students be given scholarships?' he asked in a statement.
However, Dr Syed Husin also urged MM Lee to look at his own backyard where a majority of Malays were in dire straits, according to Malaysiakini
posted by Shamsul Iskandar Mohd. Akin @ 9:03 AM
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