KOTA KINABALU: Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir's is going against the very grain of the formation of Malaysia by describing multi-ethnicity as unconstitutional, says Wilfred Madius Tangau.
"We must instead stand together to affirm the original Project Malaysia that our forefathers signed up for in 1963.
"We must decentralise all Malaysian states and materialise the promises in the Malaysia Agreement 1963," the Tuaran MP said in a statement on Tuesday (July 4).
He said Dr Mahathir's statement was aimed at dividing Malaysians and people should not fall into his "vicious plan to divide and rule."
Madius said that it was important for Malaysians to solidly rally behind the Madani government that upholds all Malaysians and denounces bigotry, hatred and colonialism as the country marks Merdeka and Malaysia Day in the next two months.
"While Sabahans and Sarawakians are not voting this round, we hope voters in Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will send a clear message to reject ultra-nationalism, colonialism and imperialism championed by Dr Mahathir and company," said Madius, who is the honorary Upko president.
In urging Malaysians to unite, he said that Dr Mahathir's anti-multiculturalism was particularly insulting to Sabahans and Sarawakians.
He said Dr Mahathir's vicious attacks on multiculturalism threatens Malaysia's territorial integrity.
Responding to the former prime minister's statement that it was unconstitutional to promote Malaysia as a multi-ethnic country, he said that Dr Mahathir seemed to be acting like an "imperialist and colonialist" who saw Sabah and Sarawak as nothing more than colonial possessions.
"From all his attacks on Western imperialists and colonialists, Dr Mahathir has become one with the way he looks at Sabahans, Sarawakians, and other minorities in Peninsular Malaysia," he added.
"Sabah and Sarawak are proudly multicultural and inclusive. As in Peninsular Malaysia, we have Malays – Sarawak Malays and Brunei Malays – as well as Chinese and Indians.
"We also have KadazanDusun-Murut, Bajaus, Suluks, Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Hulu, Melanaus and many other groups. Don't pigeonhole our natives.
"We celebrate interfaith harmony and multilingualism. We eat at the same table. We celebrate each other's festivals.
"We will stay this way and not be assimilated into bigotry and segregation," Madius said.
