Last month, Minister in charge of national unity Tan Sri Jopseh Kurup had suggested that Malaysia should take a major step towards creating a single national identity by removing the “race” category from all official forms.
He said it was sad that Malaysians were still divided by racial and religious identities.
However, what he said yesterday in Kajang in support of BN candidate Chew Mei Fun has raised question if he is truly committed to the belief that Malaysians should all think as Malaysians.
It was reported that while handing out goodies in his “Sayang Komuniti” programme organized by the Kajang Rukun Tetangga at Sungai Chuah, Kajang, he pleaded the attendees who were mostly Chinese to “vote for BN candidate that is one from your own race”.
Rukun Tetangga is a progamme under the National Unity Department as its purpose is not only to help check neighbourhood crime, but also to promote racial integration and national unity.
It is wrong and unacceptable for BN to misuse government resources to help in any political campaign; it is even more unacceptable that Joseph Kurup has misused Rukun Tetangga for political purpose.
What is worse is his playing of racial card, calling on the Chinese attendees to vote BN candidate that is one from their own race.
This is most unbecoming and irresponsible of a Minister in charge of national unity.
How could a minister in charge of national unity play racial card in a by election?
He must now answer the question that Malaysians want to know – is he a Minister of Unity or Disunity?
All Ministers must regard themselves as Malaysians first and committed to the 1 Malaysia concept.
I call on the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib to state his stand—if he wants to have a minister of disunity in his Cabinet?