KUCHING: Racial or ideological extremism have no place in plural Sarawak as this will breed disunity and dissension to society, said PBB veteran Datuk Peter Minos.
“A multi-racial Sarawak, and Malaysia for that matter, needs everyone to accept religious and cultural differences in society, as graciously as possible. This, in turn, requires that everyone must have a culture of tolerance, moderation and mutual understanding of a real and genuine kind.
“It is a few extremists and fanatics in society who create trouble for the rest of us – those who are not sensitive to the racial or religious or cultural feelings of fellow Malaysians. They fail to know or understand the sensitivities of others,” he said yesterday.
Minos, who now spends most of his time in Kuala Lumpur, was giving his views as a socio-political commentator on the many statements uttered by racially-based associations and far-right movements of late. Minos said he agreed with Chief Minister and PBB president Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud that race and religion are non-issues in Sarawak when assuring Christians that they can still use the word ‘Allah’.
“We in Sarawak are fortunate that the leaders and people as a whole make it a point to respect fellow Sarawakians’ feelings and sensitivities, and we will do very well in keeping it this way. This is a wise way.
“Of late, there were signs and indications that racial and religious tolerance in our society have been under strains and stresses, resulting in unwanted tension and anxiety in society.
“Luckily our top leaders came in, calling for calm and cool heads and urging people not to allow any religious difference to split and disunite Malaysians,” he said.
Minos also mentioned Malaysians are faced with many challenges such as globalisation, rising costs, global warming and big power rivalries, saying the nation does not need issues like religious strife to add to the problems.
“We are also trying very hard to have greater unity and harmony among the races and we do not wish any religious trouble to spoil the show. Extremists do not seem to know that, once racial or religious strife comes about, it destroys everything and everyone – both those in the right and in the wrong.
“It is a wildfire that may be unstoppable and so it must not be allowed to start or be triggered in the first place,” he said.
He pointed out even after 50 years of independence and living peacefully, it is still paramount that national unity be safeguarded and maintained.
“Unity is so vital that, with it, we survive and progress but without it, we go downhill and possibly slide and sink,” he said.