KUALA LUMPUR – DAP should be more sensitive to the feelings of the Malays following the proposal by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming to nominate Chinese new villages in Selangor as Unesco World Heritage Sites.
In saying this, former law minister Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim added that Nga should have discussed it first with Malay representatives before announcing the proposal, which has stirred up controversy.
“The difference between the current leaders and our earlier ones is this: our earlier leaders trust one another. They were like family.
“If they wanted certain ‘concessions’ from the other side, they would invite them for a discussion. They were not interested in double-talk or taking advantage of each other. I think they were more sincere,” he said in an X post this morning.
Zaid added that the Unesco sites were reserved for either natural, historical or cultural sites.
“Mulu Caves and Melaka, for example. These places are on the tentative list, including the Royal Belum and Sungei Buloh Leprosarium. Why not nominate those on the tentative list? he asked, adding that there were six more sites on the list that would not cause controversy.
“This is where DAP should be more ‘sensitive’ to the feelings of the Malays. Even if you want to add new villages (naturally, some of them have cultural attractions), Nga should talk to the Malay representatives first.
“Not inviting them (Malays) to talk after the matter is blown up,” he said.
Yesterday, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin described Nga as a leader who was “politically tone-deaf”, citing his insensitivity to the situation and the historical context in light of his proposal.
He said that the DAP leader’s statement seemed to show his insensitivity to the history of the origins of the establishment of Chinese new villages during British rule.
Previously, Nga, who is also Teluk Intan MP, proposed to nominate Chinese new villages in Selangor as Unesco World Heritage Sites.
The recognition of the villages as such sites allows them to be elevated as Malaysian cultural heritage sites.
The proposal drew many criticisms, including from Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who said the proposal was not an easy endeavour as it needed to be brought to the negotiating table to be implemented, including the cabinet and Parliament.
“It needs consultation and needs to be brought to the cabinet, and if necessary, it needs to be brought to the parliament level to be debated.
“Umno feels there is no need to establish Chinese new villages as Unesco sites,” he said. – February 13, 2024