Muhyiddin warns M'sians to beware of politicians who manipulate racial issues for personal gain

Such politicians should be avoided.

Sulaiman Daud | February 15, 2021, 11:42 PM

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin launched a 10-year plan to improve national unity and integration -- and warned the public to be wary of politicians who manipulate racial sentiment for their own purposes.

Called the National Unity Blueprint 2021 - 2030, it aims to make the country more tolerant, inclusive and patriotic.

Plan for inclusivity and diversity

Speaking on Feb. 15, Muhyiddin commended the way that Malaysian society had reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Malay Mail.

He acknowledged that there were imbalances in current Malaysian society, with how different communities view each other, and added that more work had to be done.

Muhyiddin said that like other multiracial nations, Malaysians tended to view racial issues through a racial or communal lens.

But this should be improved to be more balanced and holistic.

Muhyiddin also pledged that there would be greater emphasis on inclusivity in governance, celebrating unity in diversity.

Beware of racial rabble rousers

Muhyiddin also warned the public to look out for politicians who play on racial sentiments for their own purposes.

According to Malaysiakini, he said:

"We should be careful of the racial sentiment manipulation by politicians. This is a major challenge faced by almost all multi-ethnic countries.

The political actors who are trying to raise their political share via exploitation of racial feelings should be avoided by us."

Back in 2010, Muhyiddin declared "I am a Malay first" and a "Malaysian at heart" when challenged by DAP leader Lim Kit Siang to describe himself as a Malaysian first and Malay second, to show that he supported the 1Malaysia concept.

1Malaysia refers to the project launched by former Prime Minister Najib Razak to promote harmony and unity.

Muhyiddin said that he would be "shunned" by the Malay community if he did not describe himself as a Malay first. He added:

"It is not wrong for any leader to struggle for the interest of his own race. Don’t tell me that Kit Siang does not struggle for the Chinese community. It does not mean that if we help the Malays, we don’t help the Chinese. We help all communities."

Top image from Muhyiddin Yassin's Facebook page.