NATIONAL integration will remain elusive as long as the government engages in petty racial politics, Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

This triggered a shouting match between backbenchers and the opposition.

Lim made the comment when Deputy Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Teng Boon Soon, replying to a question by Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee (BN-Setiu), said the national integration programme had been successful.

Lim disputed this and said it was 11 days to Merdeka but the festive atmosphere was missing.

He said integration was elusive as parties were too busy talking about Malay supremacy and rights.
"The success of national integration programmes is not true, especially over the last six months when there was tension on issues relating to Malay rights and solidarity. There was extreme reactions when the Bar Council held forums on the social contract and conversion to Islam."

He said in the Permatang Pauh by-election, there were buntings promoting racial sentiment.

He said a banner taken to the nomination centre last Saturday by Umno Youth read: Melayu ditindas, mana keadilan? (Malays oppressed, where is justice?)

"Isn't this a failure of the efforts to promote national integration? What is the ministry doing to stop racial claims like this?"

Teng said to promote solidarity among Malaysians, cooperation from all parties was important.

"If we handle the people and country's problems with honesty and justice, I'm sure we will see a better situation."

Not satisfied, Lim tried to raise another point but was heckled by the Barisan Nasional members.

Among them were Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) and Datuk Lilah Yassin (BN-Jempol).

"Don't always challenge the Bumiputeras all the time," shouted Tajuddin, while Lilah told Lim that "this is not China".

At this juncture, MPs from both BN and the opposition started shouting at each other with words like, "DAP also plays racial issues" and "Don't challenge the Malays".

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia stepped in. "How could the people be expected to unite like this?" he asked.

He put an end to the shouting by ordering Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping) to ask his question.

The question was what the government could do to promote national integrity while its policies were discriminating and dividing the people into Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera.

It drew derisive remarks from the backbenchers but Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was not in a mood to engage the opposition in a shouting match.

"The government has been fair to all Malaysians. This is proven by peace and harmony in the country with the implementation of various government policies based on the Federal Constitution."