No racial issue under Musa’s leadership – LDP

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has not experienced any racial issue under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Hj Aman, said Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Teo Chee Kang.

Teo said Musa is a moderate leader who embraces everyone regardless of race and religion.

“All Sabahans will agree that the existing racial harmony in the State is something that we should cherish and maintain,” he said when responding to the acknowledgement of Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem that Malaysian Chinese are not ‘pendatang’ (immigrant).

Adenan stated this in his recent Chinese New Year message and it was concurred by Sabah State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Panglima Salleh Said Keruak.

“This should put a stop to the rhetorics by the narrow minded few with selfish agenda bent on stoking up racial hatred and distrust,” Teo, who is also the Minister of Special Tasks, said in a press statement yesterday.

Other than the Chinese, ancestors of many races and tribes of our fellow Malaysians were migrants from South Asia and the Malay archipelago, Teo said.

“What matters is our loyalty and allegiance as Malaysian citizens, origins are irrelevant,” he stressed.

In his blog posting, Salleh commended Adenan for saying that the Chinese ‘ Pendatang’ rhetoric is straining race relations in Malaysia.

Adenan also thanked the Chinese for their contribution to the state and added that the community should rightfully regard Malaysia as their home. Salleh said what Adenan had said would apply to Sabah as well, adding that many Sabah leaders have said the same thing many times in the past: that Chinese are as Malaysian as any other race or ethnicity.

“It is probably time to put this matter to rest and no longer argue about who is more Malaysian and who came to this country first. Instead, we should discuss how to face the challenges ahead of us, especially the economic challenges and the bigger worry of terrorism that, according to the IGP, threatens to land on our own doorstep,” said the former Chief Minister of Sabah.

Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui also praised Musa for his able leadership in leading Sabah to be one of the most harmonious states in Malaysia.

“Chinese in Sabah should be very grateful that since Musa took over the chief ministership of Sabah, all the leaders in the state government, including the Bumiputera leaders, have never made any extreme racial and religious statement, and we should be proud of it,” said Lui.

Musa also in his recent Chinese New Year message emphasized that Sabah would not accept any form of religious and racial extremism, and urged to maintain the current peaceful atmosphere.

Lui pointed out that Malaysia is a multi-racial and religious society. Unity and harmony is the most important ingredient in pursuing progress and development.

“We must try our best to seek the common ground so every race will continue to live and interact peacefully in order to build good relationship,” he said.

Lui called on the people to continue to give full support to Musa in his wish to enhance and protect the harmony among all the races, and keep the spirit of harmony and unity.