Mahathir warns ethnic Chinese his opponents sowing discontent
Mahathir warns ethnic Chinese his opponents sowing discontent
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad has told the country's large ethnic Chinese minority that
government opponents are trying to sow racial hatred and hinder
development.
In a statement issued late on Sunday ahead of Chinese New Year
celebrations this week, Mahathir said there would be riots if
instability prevented the people from earning a living.
Mahathir said Malaysians were still able to preserve racial
harmony and peace despite struggling with economic problems that
erupted with Asia's financial crisis in mid-1997.
"Nevertheless, certain quarters within and outside the country
will continue to pit the various races in Malaysia against each
other so that riots will occur and development obstructed,"
Mahathir said in Malay.
"They know that when the people are unable to earn a decent
living because of instability, there will be riots and the
nation's economic recovery obstructed. We can see this happening
in some other countries," Mahathir said without elaborating.
Mahathir has repeatedly accused the anti-government
"reformasi" (reform) movement led by sacked finance minister
Anwar Ibrahim of trying to spark Indonesia-style riots to topple
his 17-year-old rule.
His government in November accused the United States of
inciting Anwar's supporters to try to overthrow the government,
and said it would hold Washington accountable for any rupture of
Malaysia's multi-racial harmony.
The economically powerful Chinese comprise slightly less than
half of Malaysia's 22 million people. Ethnic Malays, Chinese and
Indians have lived in relative harmony since the last serious
race riots in 1969.
Anwar, sacked by Mahathir in September, told the Chinese they
should be wary of the government.
"I'm convinced the Chinese community is wise and mature and is
not easily taken in by the cheap tactics by a certain group of
Malay or Chinese leaders who are corrupt and their greedy
cronies," he said in a message issued over the weekend.
Sacked and arrested in September, Anwar is on trial over sex
and corruption charges which he denies. The trial, which began in
November, is at the heart of Malaysia's political turbulence.
General elections must be held by April 2000.
In the message distributed by human rights group Suara Rakyat
Malaysia (People's Voice of Malaysia), Anwar said there were
attempts to stir fear among Chinese towards his movement.
"It is very convenient to use the racial issue to distract the
people's attention from the main issue -- the political crisis,
the economic crisis, corruption and oppression," Anwar said in
the statement in Malay.
Some government politicians have said that without the multi-
ethnic governing coalition, Malaysia would be prone to racial
tension. Anwar and opposition leaders accuse government
politicians of whipping up fear.
Anwar said his reform movement would strive to foster racial
harmony based on justice as well as to develop business, social
and cultural ties founded on the principles of mutual respect.
Thousands of people, mostly indigenous Malays, took to the
streets in unprecedented anti-government protests following
Anwar's ouster. The demonstrations have since tapered off.
Mahathir, in power since 1981, has said his former deputy and
heir apparent is morally unfit. But Anwar alleges he is a victim
of government conspiracy to end his political career.