PUTATAN: The action of Perkasa and Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) in fanning racial and religious issues, if allowed to continue, will cause Barisan Nasional (BN) to lose the people’s support in the 14th general election, according to Putatan member of parliament Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh.
He said he was worried that should organizations like Perkasa and Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) continue to raise race and religious issues, BN’s support would be on the decline.
According to Marcus, religious and racial issues were very sensitive, and it would therefore be prudent that Perkasa and Isma stopped issuing statements that hurt the feelings of other communities.
“We need support from the Chinese, Indians and all of you in Sabah,” he said when met after opening the Putatan Pesta Kaamatan at the district multi-purpose hall in Pasir Putih here, Saturday.
Marcus said he fully supported the call by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman to keep his comments to himself and stop making non-constructive statements.
To the question why the authorities did not take action against these organisations, he was of the opinion that there were certain constraints including the need for a thorough investigation to be done first before any action was taken.
“But I think they already know what to do,” he said.
Marcus also expressed his disappointment with UiTM for organising the controversial seminar that hurt the feelings of non-Muslim Malaysians.
“The organisers should have taken into consideration the sensitivity of non-Muslim students in the higher learning institution,” he said.
On the proposed Private Member bill on hudud to be tabled by Pas in the next parliament sitting, he believed it was being done deliberately to provoke Umno leaders, and added that he believed it would not work because he knew many Umno leaders who respect other races.
Earlier, Marcus praised Putatan and pointed out that it was a model for other parliamentary constituencies to emulate.
“The people in Putatan do not easily criticise the government just for the sake of criticising. They do it because they want progress and development. However, there is a small group of people who for their own interest, keep on raising petty issues including those concerning the district administration.
“They are from the opposition who are doing it just to gain political mileage,” he said, adding that nearby constituency, Penampang (under an opposition MP) also had problems but people were not shouting about it.
He disclosed that the BN government had already approved the construction of two pedestrian bridges, one in front of the SK Hwa Shiong Primary School, and the other near the tamu ground.
The people, he said had been requesting for the pedestrian bridges for quite some time as it was difficult for pedestrians, especially school children, to cross the busy main road that goes through the township.
“Works are expected to start this July,” he said, adding that he had also applied for a flyover to help ease traffic congestion here, but have to wait for funds.
“It is not that the federal government is not concerned about the well-being of the people here but development will come in stages,” he said, and added that what was being done and would be done would be proof that allegations of BN not doing their job to be not true.