PONTIAN: Leaders of component parties of the unity government coalition are urged to be more cautious and not to hurt the sensitivities of the ethnic-majority population of this country with racially divisive proposals.
Umno Supreme Council member, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, said that the racially charged statements made by DAP leaders are extremely dangerous not only to the sensitivities of the people of this country but also to the harmony of society.
Ahmad also questioned whether the controversial statements issued by several DAP leaders were intentionally made to observe and gauge the reaction of the Bumiputera or to test their patience.
He said, several controversial statements by DAP leaders began with Lim Kit Siang's proposal regarding a non-Malay Prime Minister; Federal Territory DAP Chairman, Tan Kok Wai (local government election); Beruas Member of Parliament, Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (non-Muslim expert in the Sharia Committee); and DAP Perak Chairman, Nga Kor Ming (new Chinese village as Unesco World Heritage Site).
"Four DAP leaders have issued controversial statements, why don't they understand.
"So, to make them understand, I will provide the latest data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) 2023 regarding the ethnic composition of this country, which is 70.1 percent Bumiputera; Chinese (22.6 percent); Indians (6.6 percent) and others (0.7 percent).
"Don't hurt the feelings of that 70.1 percent, it is very dangerous," he said.
He said this at a press conference after a meeting with the Branch Chiefs, Women, Youth, and Puteri of Umno Pontian Division here, today.
Nga, who is also the Minister of Housing and Local Government, recently nominated a new Chinese village in Selangor as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to recognise the cultural and historical significance of the village, which was founded 76 years ago.
In June last year, Nga was also reported to have nominated seven new villages in Penang, Selangor, Perak, Melaka, and Johor as Unesco World Heritage Sites.
Meanwhile, Ahmad, who is also the Chief of the Pontian Umno Division and Deputy Chairman of Umno Johor, hopes that all leaders of component parties and the unity government coalition will be more careful in the future.
"Always be cautious when making announcements or statements that involve racial relations because the consequences are enormous."I also hope that the Cabinet will not approve Nga's proposal regarding this matter.
"Moreover, all the statements they make will only erode Malay support for the Unity Government and Umno besides being used as ammunition by the opposition," he said.