PRESS RELEASE
KUALA LUMPUR, 28 MARCH 2001
PBS: REVAMP NATIONAL UNITY PANEL
Kuala
Lumpur, Wed. – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today
called for a revamp of the National Unity Advisory
Panel to make it more effective and proactive in promoting
racial harmony in the country.
PBS
deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkili told parliament
it was time the Ministry of National Unity and Community
Development adopted a new approach in planning and
implementing national unity programmes by paying greater
attention to the role that economic disparity may
play in racial tension and conflicts.
Debating
the motion of thanks for the Royal address this afternoon,
Ongkili said in the past the threat of racial tension
in Malaysia was regarded as non-existent although
researchers and analysts have warned of symptoms of
dissatisfaction and tension at the ground level due
to economic disparity and underdevelopment within
or between communities.
"Internal
threats in the form of severe economic problems, income
disparity, and deprivation between racial groups can
give rise to jealousy, anger and misunderstanding
to the extent that national unity is threatened,"
he stressed.
Ongkili
claimed the recent incidents that occurred in Kampung
Medan and Old Klang Road areas were directly related
to problems of poverty and other socio-economic factors
that further led to racial misunderstandings.
"The
Advisory Panel under the Ministry must drop its "intellectual
approach" to solving national unity problems and be
more "down to earth" in its programmes. Further, the
Panel should submit regular reports to parliament,
detailing its programmes and actions," he urged.
On
the rotation system in Sabah, the Bandau member of
parliament reiterated that PBS had always called for
the abolition of the system given its detrimental
effects on the administration and economy of the State.
"But
if the Federal government insists on continuing with
the system, at least it should be implemented with
fairness and not sideline a particular community.
As it is the Kadazandusuns are only given a chance
to occupy the office after six years, clearly showing
that they have been sidelined ," he stated
