27 April 2017



Press statement by MCA Vice President Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun


*No room for racial discord provocateurs: Investigate Bertindak under Sedition Act*

These days when the BN-led federal government under the premiership of Dato’ Sri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak who has mooted the concept of 1Malaysia and extols moderation, it is regrettable that there are still groups who hold racist and extremist attitudes. News report that a newly formed Malay NGO Barisan Bertindak Melayu Islam (Bertindak) has called to review the citizenship granted to Malaysians between 1957 to 1970.

Bertindak’s demand and Perkasa Ibrahim Ali’s warning that “if you disturb us, we disturb you, la” (Malay Mail Online, 26 Apr 2017) are dangerous and serves to threatens outbreak of vigilantism and reprisals against imagined non-existent enemies besides inciting hatred and distrust amongst the races andpolarising society. Such a scenario is unhealthy in multiracial and multireligious Malaysia which even before Merdeka, has long enjoyed the Muhibbah spirit of mutual respect and goodwill among all the different races. The police should open investigations into Bertindak’s slur under the Sedition Act as they are seditious in nature. Such a situation can incur societal instability.

All Malaysians who hold a blue MyKad and are Malaysian citizens, our rights and privileges are accorded and protected by the Federal Constitution. Unless one has chosen to renounce one’s own citizenship, nobody can simply strip the citizenship of Malaysian born and bred here.

As there are many Malaysians of diverse ethnicity who were born and bred Malaysia, are steadfastly loyal to our Malay Rulers, the Federal Constitution and have contributed towards the nation in their own ways and raised law-abiding citizens, we urge Bertindak not to exploit the controversy involving Dr Zakir Naik’s PR status to launch a tirade against non-Malays or sow public disharmony.

A more important issue to address is the stateless status of many Malaysian children who through no fault of theirs, their Malaysian parents did not register their births be it locally due to complacency, lack of education and thus failing to comprehend the importance of registering a birth, inaccessibility to the National Registration Department due to residing in the interiors, or did not register their child’s birth at the Malaysian Embassy or Malaysian High Commission abroad. Bertindak would have credibility if it had exhorted the government to address this issue.

On a separate matter, the authorities must also investigate if Bertindak is a legally registered body, what are its aims? Who are its office bearers?

Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun
MCA Vice President
MCA School of Political Studies Principal
Deputy Minister of Women, Family & Community Development 
 

-MCA Online-