Mahathir talks about race

Mahathir talks about race

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
said on Saturday that Malaysia's racial groups needed to settle
their differences behind closed doors because an open debate
could lead to violence.

"If we were to hold an open debate, inevitably emotions will
get out of control and most likely racial riots will occur, and
this will not benefit anyone," Mahathir was quoted as telling a
political meeting by national news agency Bernama.

The prescription for racial harmony follows renewed tension
between the majority Muslim Malays and minority ethnic Chinese,
who have lived in a peaceful but at times uneasy coexistence
since bloody riots in 1969.

The tension followed public urgings by some Chinese
organizations for an end to race-based affirmative action
policies favoring ethnic Malays in jobs, housing, bank loans and
education, implemented after the 1969 riots to lift Malays out of
traditional poverty.