PETALING JAYA: Every Malaysian, including politicians, should condemn extremist views that are dangerous for the country’s peace and racial harmony, say trade associations and youth groups.
Petty Traders and Hawkers Association president Datuk Rosli Sulaiman said small businesses were affected the most by chaos due to provocations by those who spewed extremist views.
“We are the first ones to be hit badly when such extremist views are put out by careless leaders, as people would then be afraid to go out to public areas. Hawkers and petty traders rely on these customers for business.
“Such businesses have yet to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.“Now that the general election is over and the government has been formed with a new Prime Minister announced, it’s time to stop all forms of mud-slinging by politicians from all sides.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has an urgent duty to stop leaders and politicians from playing up racial and religious sentiments, and they should unite as this will enable businesses to carry out their activities without problems.“We hope that once the Cabinet is announced, the ministers in charge will do away with politicking and get down to work as the economy still has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels,” said Rosli.
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai applauded the Conference of Rulers for their message on the need to end extremism.
“I absolutely agree with the Conference of Rulers. We are Malaysians and should always uphold our Rukun Negara as we all need to have a united Malaysia and the spirit of togetherness.
“This way, everyone achieves more in terms of social harmony and peace. With that comes sustainable prosperity among Malaysians,” he said, adding that businesses would have the confidence to grow when there was peace and unity.
Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz said the campaigning period during the 15th General Election was stressful for Malaysians as some party leaders had resorted to racial and religious sentiments.
“Now that the unity government has been formed, it can help unite the country and do away with narrow-minded views of those who use religious and racial sentiments to gather support,” he added.
On Wednesday, Conference of Rulers chairman Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir called on the new Federal Government to foster the spirit of togetherness among Malaysians of various religious, racial and cultural backgrounds.
In his opening speech on the second day of the 260th Meeting of the Conference of Rulers, Tuanku Muhriz said all leaders must work to end racial and religious extremism in the spirit of togetherness.
