KUALA LUMPUR: A former law minister believes Malaysians should talk about race issues instead of lodging police reports if they feel aggrieved about what others say about their community.
"We (should) rush to the town hall and assemble the community leaders. We talk to one another," said Datuk Zaid Ibrahim in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"We ask whether such sentiments are indeed prevalent and the circumstances in which it was said. Could it be a misunderstanding or ignorance?"
He said the goal should be identifying the source of the problem and finding a solution.
Zaid said Malaysians were not aggressive and by nature, were accommodating and pleasant.
"Are we not the people known for our give and take?"
He was commenting on reports that police are investigating academician Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong over his alleged criticisms of vernacular schools.
Teo is being investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code for public mischief and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
He reportedly said that vernacular schools were a source of racism towards Malays.
Zaid said he believed making the issue into a police case would not help race relations in the country, and that dialogue was the way forward.
He also said Malaysia should take a leaf from Singapore's management of race relations.
"They build homes for the people and ensure every community lives in that housing area. All are represented. The govt priority is to ensure inclusivity, and they live well with diversity.
"We, on the other hand, relish our differences. We use race, and if that is not enough, we use religion.
"No wonder we do not know how to deal with people's issues except to rush to the police station."
Zaid said the country's leaders must do more to improve race relations instead of trying to be the "hero of one community" and add "fuel to the fire".
"Only responsible leadership can save this country, but for that, we need to work harder and smarter."
Earlier today, former DAP leader Dr P. Ramasamy also questioned the necessity for police action against Teo, saying the authorities should instead engage Teo "rationally and intellectually".