Multiracial parties for national unity

3 August 2006

Leaders must be for all races

I refer to your report “Koh: I'm Chief Minister for all races” (NST Aug.29)

Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon should be praised for emphasizing that he is Chief Minister for all races. His strong stand as a Malaysian leader for all in the face of strong criticisms from local Umno should be an example for leaders at all levels.

If only all our Ministers and Menteris Besar also pledge that they are truly leaders of all races, it will go a long way to overcome our ethnic problems, which is gaining momentum and becoming a real threat to national unity.

Not only our political leaders are seen to be championing their own race, even non-political institutions are following suit. It is becoming more acceptable for teachers to cater for the needs of their pupils of their own race. Even on the roads when there is an accident, passer-bys rush to help only if the victims are of their own race.

After almost 50 years of independence, Malaysians are still divided by race and religion. We are nowhere near the perceived ideals of racial unity that our forefathers envisaged at the time of independence.

The only true way to foster racial unity is political will. As long as our political parties are set up along ethnic lines it will be an almost impossible task to achieve national unity. The unity that appears will only be superficial and will not stand the test of stress and strain that is common in a multiracial and multi-religious society like ours.

It is time to rethink our strategies of instilling racial and religious tolerance and goodwill in our people especially the young. We have to seriously consider the establishment of multiracial political parties, where every member, regardless of race, has an equal and fair representation.

Prime Minister,Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has on numerous occasions reiterated that the nation belongs to all and we hope that he will succeed in uniting all the citizens of our beloved country, where everyone irrespective of ethnicity will feel proud to be Malaysians.

Dr.Chris Anthony