Just as extremist and fanatical statements and stands calling for the destruction of Buddhist, Kuan Kung and all other non-Muslim statues in plural Malaysia must be condemned in no uncertain terms as enemy to inter-religious harmony and co-existence, false claims that PAS would destroy all Buddhist, Kuan Kung and all other non-Muslim statues must also be condemned in the strongest language as enemy to the preservation of inter-racial and inter-religious peace, goodwill and harmony in the country.
If Idris Omar had said that if PAS comes to power, all Buddhist and Kuan Kong statues would be destroyed in Malaysia, then Idris must be ostracised as he is unfit to be an elected representative in multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia and unqualified to be an elected representative of the Barisan Alternative which in its 1999 common election manifesto has committed all component parties to the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion for all Malaysians.
However, if Idris Omar had not made such a statement in the Pahang State Assembly on Wednesday, then the MCA State Assemblyman for Indera Mahkota Ti Lean Ker is not fit to be an elected representative in a multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia in being so dishonest and unprincipled as to be prepared to “play with fire” by artificially arousing non-Muslim fears.
If Idris had made the statement to destroy all Buddhist and Kuan Kung statues, I stand firm with him to denounce Idris, but if Idris had not made such a statement, Ti should be denounced by every right-thinking Malaysian and he should have the humility to publicly apologise for his irresponsible and unprincipled politics.
Up to now, despite his playing the Pahang State Assembly tape-recording, Ti has not been able to produce proof that Idris had said that when PAS comes to power, it will destroy Buddhist and Kuan Kung statues.
Is Ti prepared to admit that he had committed a most irresponsible act and publicly apologise for it?
The MCA national leadership, especially its President Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik, should instil in Ti the qualities of a responsible elected representative in a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia and check him when he acted in a most irresponsible, dishonest and unprincipled manner by “playing with fire” by artificially arousing non-Muslim fear and alarm over fictitious issues - and not help Ti to fan the “fire” by pouring more oil on it, when the facts are now clear that Idris had never made any statement about PAS destroying Buddhist and Kuan Kung statues.
(6/5/2001)