Malaysian ruling party punishes member over race
row
Posted: 11 September 2008 0051 hrs
KUALA LUMPUR: A member of Malaysia's ruling party was on
Wednesday suspended for three years for "stoking racial tensions"
with incendiary comments about ethnic Chinese that shook the
governing coalition.
Ahmad Ismail, a division chief of the United Malays National
Organisation (UMNO) which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition, had
called Chinese "squatters" and warned of repercussions if they
tried to seek political power.
The furore has highlighted rifts between majority Muslim Malays
and the ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, and raised fears of a
split in the coalition of race-based parties which has ruled for
half a century.
"The supreme council has found that Ahmad Ismail's statement and
actions have caused much anger and protest from the BN component
parties," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said after a meeting
of the policy-making body.
"We have decided that he will be suspended from the
party for three years," he told a press conference.
Abdullah said that racially-charged comments threatened the
future of Malaysia, which has seen bloody racial riots in the past
and is determined to maintain ethnic harmony.
"The racial situation in our country looks like it is showing
signs of strain and increasing tensions among races," he said.
"We for so long have been able to control the situation so that
nothing untoward happens, but we can't allow a situation like this
to continue... which could affect our peace and stability."
Despite the punishment, Ahmad remained defiant, saying: "I will
not retract, I made no mistake, I will not apologise."
"I will be staying with UMNO, which is my party... Make no
mistake, I will make a comeback," said the member from northern
Penang state, who is one of 191 division chiefs representing the
party's grassroots.
Koh Tsu Koon, acting president of the Chinese-based Gerakan
which bore the brunt of his outburst, was lukewarm in his response
and said police must now take action over allegations of threats
made by Ahmad.
"UMNO's decision to suspend Ahmad Ismail is a step in
the right direction. We hope this will serve as deterrent against
similar irresponsible and insensitive actions," he
said.
The row has erupted as opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim - whose
Keadilan party is the first pan-racial party in Malaysian political
history - attempts to woo the support of enough coalition lawmakers
to topple the government.
In March elections the opposition dramatically increased the
number of seats it holds, and the race row was seen as jeopardising
support for the government among its Chinese-based member
parties.
"The patience of the Malays and Muslims has a limit. Do not push
us to the wall, as when we turn back we will be forced to push the
Chinese in the interests of our own survival," Ahmad said in a
press conference on Monday.
"The Chinese should not try to be like the Jews in America - it
is not enough they control the economy, now they want political
control," he said.
Abdullah, who has faced calls to quit since the elections
debacle, was presented with a further headache on Wednesday as a
top minister said he should consider handing over power to his
deputy earlier than mid-2010 as planned.
"I'm being very frank and open because I have no qualms about
saying what I think is correct: 2010 is too long," said Trade
Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is a potential challenger. -
AFP/de
