Thursday February 4, 2010

Take further action, says Ong

PETALING JAYA: The racist re-marks made by Datuk Nasir Safar have hurt the feelings of the non-Malays, in particular the Chinese and Indians, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said.

He said the remarks were totally inconsistent with the 1Malaysia concept espoused by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Many of us are saddened and outraged by the statement. It reeks of racism, is highly inconsiderate and totally unacceptable.

“What is worse is that the statement was made at a function on 1Malaysia organised by the Infor-mation, Communications and Culture Ministry’s Special Affairs Department,” Ong said in a statement here yesterday.

He said he welcomed the immediate clarification by the Prime Minister’s Office that Nasir’s statement did not reflect the views of Najib’s administration.

“However, the damage has been done and further action needs to be taken, including possible disciplinary proceedings or invoking sedition laws,” he said.

Racism and bigotry, Ong said, were distractions that would hamper genuine efforts to develop the economic and social well-being of the country.

“These will also be obstacles in the Government Transformation Programme towards enhancing inter-ethnic harmony,” he added.

He said the independence of the country was won by Umno, MCA and MIC and all of them had fought earnestly for their constitutional rights in the country.

“Each and every race, including the orang asli and the indigenous groups of east Malaysia, has contributed greatly to the building and development of Malaysia and these historical facts cannot be disputed,” he said.

He added that Malaysia belon-ged to all races, and today almost all Malaysians were born and bred in the country.

“No one is an immigrant,” he said.

Ong asked the MCA’s Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie to ensure that continuous and proper input reflecting the views of all ethnic communities consistent with the true spirit of 1Malaysia be given to officials of the special department organising seminars.

“This is to ensure such an incident does not occur in the future.”

MCA’s non-governmental organisations liaison bureau chairman Datuk Ti Lian Ker said Nasir should be investigated under the Sedition Act.

He said his remarks with regard to the citizenship of non-Malays provoked sensitivities and encroached on the constitutional guarantee for all Malaysian citizens. Ti said in a statement that action should be taken against anybody irrespective of rank or status when they uttered racist or seditious remarks.