PETALING JAYA: Kedah Umno has advised certain DAP leaders not to disrupt the harmony of the unity government by inciting discord among component parties.
Its state information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin said these leaders seemed to have forgotten they were no longer in the opposition but were now in the same administration as Umno.
His remarks followed Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming's proposal to nominate new Chinese villages in Selangor as Unesco World Heritage Sites.
Shaiful told Nga to be mindful of his suggestions, adding that a ministerial position did not authorise a person to propose contentious issues.
He said in a statement on Monday (Feb 12) it would be prudent for DAP to consider the sensitivities of other parties and not view Umno as a mere “tree stump”.
"This appears to be an attempt to preserve only his own community's culture while neglecting the traditions and history of other villages.
"However, I'm not surprised because lately, DAP leaders have become increasingly bold in making racially-charged statements and criticisms such as Tony Pua and Ramkarpal Singh.
"There are masterminds within DAP attempting to disrupt the harmony of the coalition government and incite discord among component parties.
ALSO READ: ‘Let Cabinet handle new villages’ bid for heritage status’
"Whether they like it or not, they need to refrain from stirring up religious and racial sentiments," he added.
According to recent reports, Nga is scheduled to meet Umno leaders soon to discuss his proposal.
This came after several Umno leaders voiced their opposition against Nga’s idea, saying that it touched on the position of the Malay-bumiputra community.
ALSO READ: Remaking Chinese new villages into tourist attractions
Shaiful also questioned Nga’s decision to only elevate Chinese new villages with seemingly no such efforts for Malay and Indian settlements.
He said the DAP vice-chairman’s proposal showed a lack of understanding and respect for Malaysia’s diverse ethnicities and religions.
“This is (despite) DAP's claim of being a multicultural and multireligious party,” he added.
