KUALA LUMPUR – Retired servicemen group the National Patriot Association has taken a swipe at racial rhetoric by a “statesman” and talks of toppling the unity government via Langkah Dubai.
Patriot president Datuk Zarazilah Mohamed Ali said there had been attempts to stall national progress and stoke racial and religious sentiments among the people.
“Talk of a Dubai Move has punctured various segments of society including raising concerns in the business communities. Current hurt feelings choking social media over a statesman and former political leader’s tirade is an equally grave concern.”
It is believed that Zarazilah was referring to former two-time prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s earlier assertion that Malaysian Indians and Chinese were not completely loyal to the country as they identified themselves with their respective countries of origin.
Dr Mahathir said this in a recent interview with Chennai-based satellite television channel Thanthi TV, during which he also claimed that since Malaysian Indians did not speak Malay as their mother tongue nor practise Malay customs, they should not refer to Malaysia as their home country.
“Patriot recalls the many advice, warnings and hopes expressed by our several rulers to not undermine national unity, but to build on our national assets of a multiracial, diverse and multi-religious population,” Zarazilah said in a statement today.
“But, it clearly appears that all concerns by civil society, all the advice and admonishments from our monarchs and all the warnings from learned quarters are being brushed aside as individuals, political party leaders and clusters of followers never fail to keep rigging the nation along racial, religious and cultural perimeters.”
He also said that the government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership was obligated to muster all its strengths to “drain and plug” efforts to undermine national unity.
“Politicians need to be given an ultimatum. They need to be warned that as MPs, they can and should beat the metal flat within the august house of Parliament for better governance if they smell a fault and not use coup attempts to crash through the gateway of democracy.
“Traitors living away from our shores must be negated from their conspiring attempts to puncture our national efforts to sustain unity and peace.”
He also urged every citizen, from rulers to commoners, to rise in solidarity, consistency and renewed strength to fight those chipping away at and destroying the nation’s peace and harmony. – January 14, 2024