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http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/13/nation/17715895&sec=nation
By A. LETCHUMANAN, JANE RITIKOS and PARVEEN KAUR GILL newsdesk@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: There can be “friendly competition” among Barisan Nasional component parties in looking after the interests of their own communities as long as they consider the aspirations of others and are not selfish and extremists.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was sincerely happy that party leaders took care of their own race’s interests, as it was the Government’s aim to ensure that no race lagged behind.
“I believe they are afraid of lagging behind, that their interests are not considered and they are sidelined, so they take steps to strengthen their communities.
“It would appear as if there is a competition among us, as if we only want to develop our own race. There may be those who are worried and wonder what is going to happen if all are just interested in their own race, that may be the view of outsiders,” he told delegates at the MIC 61st general assembly here yesterday.
Abdullah, however, said that people should not be worried if leaders strived to look after the interests of their communities but were conscious they had a common destiny and struggle for the nation’s future.
“In my good relationship with the party leaders, listening to them and looking at their attitude when we discuss racial, inter-racial and religious matters in the Cabinet, I assure you that we all discuss them responsibly to ensure that harmony and mutual respect among the people are maintained,” he said.
He said Malaysia and its people had always been safe because all races advanced together in the pursuit for progress.
“It is a friendly competition to do the best and offer the best that we can, like what we wish for our children. This competition will bring good progress for everyone. But don’t be selfish or extremist in the ways we do things, in the policies we pursue and strategies we develop.
“Think of others too because we don’t live just for ourselves,” he said.
“We are all in the same ship and if the ship leaks, we will all sink,” he said, adding that this must be taught to the younger generation who are full of ideas and idealism.
“We don’t want people who are clever but extreme in their thinking, who act without considering others or have religious or racial extremism,” he added.
Abdullah said there was an important lesson to be drawn from the recent Ijok by-election. He said that while many of the electorates had complained about the past state assemblyman, they still voted for the MIC candidate.
This was because they were confident of the party, Barisan and the candidate’s capabilities.
