Pak Lah says race relations fragile
Malaysiakini.com
Dec 7, 2006

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has admitted that race relations in Malaysia are "fragile" and appealed for next year's celebrations marking 50 years of independence to emphasise national unity.

Abdullah described the worsening relationship between the majority Muslim Malays and the minority ethnic Chinese and Indian communities as a "disease" and said it must be tackled openly.

The premier pointed the finger at his own party, Umno, which caused dismay last month with racially charged speeches from members at its annual meeting.

"This then shows how fragile the situation is among the races. If it is knocked it might shake, but if it is knocked harder it might break," he said according to The Star's report of his speech late yesterday.

"It is better if we all know, so we can fix this disease. If anything is lacking, then it should be solved together so that there is strength in unity," he said.

Increasing polarisation

Abdullah called for the celebrations of half a century of independence from Britain to include all Malaysians, regardless of race.

"If there are shortcomings let us work together to overcome them," he said, according to the state Bernama news agency. "We also don't want only a semblance of unity but with festering undercurrents on the inside."

The premier said unity among the races had been the backbone of Malaysia since independence. After an initial rocky period, relations had improved but now they were on the wane again, he said.

Malaysian commentators have sounded alarm over the growing "Islamisation" of the country, and the increasing polarisation of the three main ethnic communities who mingle much less than they did years ago.

Abdullah, who has promoted a moderate form of the religion known as "Islam Hadhari" since coming to power in October 2003, has warned that some elements in the country have instead become more conservative and radical.

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