Mat Sabu: Avoid racial and religious feuds
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are urged to avoid feuding over racial and religious issues so that the country’s peace and stability can be safeguarded.
Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said the harmony that Malaysia had enjoyed since the end of the communist insurgency could be jeopardised by such feuds.
He said conflicts, once sparked, were not easy to douse and would have adverse impact on the country’s security and economic development.
“Do not get caught up in clashes. We must not seek feuds (involving religion and race) that may go overboard.
“Differences (in opinion) require negotiation and dialogue. Do not let them get to the physical level.
“Lighting the fire of war is easy, but putting it out is not.”
Mohamad said this in his speech at the 52nd Armed Forces Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (Perhebat) convocation here yesterday.
Present were Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong and Malaysian Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin.
Mohamad, who is popularly known as Mat Sabu, said peace and harmony were important to attract foreign investment that would lead to economic growth and prosperity for the people.
He said protracted conflicts in Middle Eastern nations like Syria and Iraq had adversely impacted their economies and societies.
“Once a nation is in chaos, who wants to invest there?
“(Look at) Somalia, Libya, Iraq and Syria. To heal their economies, peace must be restored first.”