Reject leaders who raise racial issues – Rubin
TENOM: Tenom Umno division chief Datuk Rubin Balang has called on the people in the state, especially Tenom, to reject opposition leaders who raise racial sentiments to gain support.
He said it is improper for opposition leaders to play up racial issues because the people in the state are living in peace and harmony.
“We, in leading the party, strive with our goals to ensure the people live in peace, harmony and security,” he told reporters after closing the Youth Carnival organized by Tenom Umno Wanita at Datuk Seri Panglima Antanom hall here on Saturday night.
Rubin, who is also Kemabong assemblyman, said through unity and harmony, the Barisan Nasional (BN) government is able to provide infrastructure, education and economic development to all levels of the people in the state.
“We reject totally any opposition political party leaders who raise racial sentiments as they have no place in this country and the state.
Meanwhile, Tenom Umno Wanita chief Datuk Rahmahjan Sulaiman Khan said the opposition were now entering villages to garner support using racial issues.
“Recently, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman's speech was interpreted by the opposition as bordering on racism,” she told reporters.
But, according to her, this was not what it meant and felt that the opposition were narrow-minded and overly sensitive in their bid to win the sympathy of voters and this should be rejected.
Rahmahjan acknowledged that most voters are fed up and that the opposition were desperate to change the government by winning the 14th general election.
“We, as Malaysians here, should be able to discern all the issues brought up by the opposition on the BN's performance,” she said.
Also at the event were Tenom Umno vice head Juli Malek Hussin, Kemabong community development leader Matusin Balang, Umno and BN leaders.