DAP is gravely concerned about the security of the 10,000 Malaysian students in Australia as a result of the raging race debate in Australia, following the receipt of two death threats by the Malaysian consulate in Sydney.
The targetting of the Malaysian mission in Sydney with hate mail from anonymous quarters, together with the incidents at the Chinese mission in Sydney where missiles were fired, probably by a slingshot, through the windows of its consulate-generals on four consecutive nights, cannot be taken lightly.
While the Malaysian authorities should not over-react to the racist speech by one independent Member of Parliament, Pauline Hanson, it is also a mistake to under-react to the outbursts of anti-Asian racism in Australia, particularly as a result of the refusal of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard to publicly condemn the anti-Asian racist speech of Hanson, which allowed the anti-Asian outbursts to rage for two months, instead of being nipped in the bud right from the beginning.
Malaysians take note and welcome the very strong language used by the Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer two days ago when he called on Australians to “absolutely reject old-fashioned, racist, elitist attitudes” as they would be “deeply destructive” and imperil Australia’s future with Asia.
However, in view of John Howard’s past record of using the anti-Asian immigration issue in the 1988 general elections and his refusal to repudiate Hanson’s racist views, Asians are understandably skeptical as to whether the Australian Foreign Minister’s fervour and zeal denouncing the outbursts of anti-Asian racism is shared by the Australian Prime Minister.
If the flames of anti-Asian racism ignited by Hanson’s speech in the Australian Parliament two months ago are not doused immediately, immense and irreparable damage would be caused not only to the fabric of Australian society, but also to long-term Australian-Asian relationships.
(9/11/96)