Leaders urge return to moderation after protests in Malaysia
Government and minority leaders yesterday called for a return to calm and moderation in the wake of a massive protest on Sunday by more than 10,000 ethnic Indians demanding an end to discrimination and a fair share of the national wealth.
Two weeks ago, poor Malaysians, mostly Malays, protested in the capital in equal numbers demanding fair and free elections, and an end to corruption and mismanagement of the economy.
Both protests have put severe pressure on the moderation that is a crucial element in the power-sharing formula of the multi-ethnic National Front government that has brought prosperity to the country.
'We argue and dispute behind close doors. We don't take to the streets and whip up emotions,' said Samy Vellu, an ethnic Indian and government minister, rebuffing Sunday's protest organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force, a Hindu-only group.
'It is easy to whip up emotions in a multi-ethnic society like ours,' Mr Vellu said.
He said the street protests are a serious danger to the moderation and consensus-building that underpin the 14-party National Front coalition government that has ruled the country since independence in 1957.
The inter-ethnic co-operation broke down in 1969 after voters abandoned the coalition in the wake of an upsurge in racial animosities.
The collapse of the power-sharing formula led to race riots in which hundreds were killed.
A key rule of the National Front, formed after the riots, is to discuss
inter-ethnic disputes behind closed doors, but in recent years racial and religious differences are openly aired via the internet and weblogs.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak echoed the concerns, saying there are poor among all races, but the resources needed to alleviate national poverty are limited.
'We try to satisfy all the races, but it is difficult to satisfy them all,' he told the official news agency Bernama on Sunday.
'We tried to stop the rally because it is about one race blaming their woes on another,' he said.
But civil-rights lawyers said the government seemed unable to respond to protesters' accusations other than to raise a stick at them.
'The government is clearly shaken, but it has to respond intelligently not to use violence and outdated laws,' said Haris Ibrahim, who led a team of lawyers to monitor both protests.
'For moderation to succeed, it requires tolerance and understanding by the government,' he said, adding that using the 'big stick' will only alienate the protesters and make the situation worse.
The government-controlled New Straits Times daily said in an editorial yesterday that minority Indians have real grievances, but have damaged their cause by taking to the streets.
'All races have grievances and Indians have many, but Sunday's protest has seriously damaged race and religious relations in the country,' the paper said.
Even de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim voiced concern over the exclusive nature of the protest by Hindus and its effects on the Malays who are blamed for Indian woes.
'I wish they could be more inclusive and understand that there are poor among all races,' Mr Anwar said. 'We are fighting systematic discrimination by a corrupt and uncaring government, and the poor of all races are affected.'
