Malaysia: Economy Will Suffer If Racial Harmony Collapses

Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Sri. Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak

The Agence France-Presse(AFP) has reported today that Malaysia’s economy will suffer and the country will break-up if racial unity collapses, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak warned ahead of a key by-election.

‘No unity means no political stability. No political stability means we are all in trouble,’ he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency late Saturday.

‘The Malays (will be) in trouble, the Chinese (will be) in trouble, the Indians (will) also be in trouble,’ he told a rally.

Najib said foreign investors would pull out their funds if there was political instability.

‘Capital can shift in a blink of an eye. Capital knows no loyalty. If our economy is under pressure, funds will flow (out). That is how sensitive capital movement is in the context of a modern global economy,’ he said.

The ruling National Front coalition, led by the dominant United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), is contesting a critical by-election that will test its popularity since disastrous losses in national polls last year.

Najib, who is UMNO deputy president, is leading the charge for the January 17 vote in northeastern Terengganu state.

Recently there have been growing fears over ‘Islamisation’ of Malaysia and the increasing polarisation of the three main ethnic communities.

About 60 percent of Malaysia’s 27 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims. The country’s minority Chinese and Indians are mostly Buddhists, Hindus or Christians.

Issues related to religion, language and race are sensitive matters in Malaysia, which witnessed deadly riots in 1969.

Malaysia is already tipped for slower growth of up to 3.5 percent for 2009, well down on earlier projections as the global crisis bites into export demand and foreign direct investment inflows.

Najib urged voters to return the Kuala Terengganu seat to UMNO to ensure racial unity and economic growth.

‘If we do make the right decision, our country can disintegrate and we will never be able to pass on this strong Malaysia to our next generation,’ he said.

P/S: We’re learning Ethnic Relations subject even in our higher learning stage, seriously haven’t we learned that racial harmony is the key to our national multiracial integration? Spread the peace people, come on!

Here In My Home

‘Here in my home
I’ll tell what it is all about
There’s just one hope here in my heart
One love undivided
That’s what it’s all about’..

It’s a snippet from the lyrics of the music video made by Malaysian Artistes For Unity. I must say, this is a pretty nice song by Pete Teo. Low budget+ great song + sporting people = Fabulous music video. What can I say more? Maya Karin, Afdlin Shauki, Awie, Jason Lo, Ning Baizura, Suki, Reshmonu, Reefa, Jaclyn Victor, models, actors, arts students, poets.. and the list goes on.. about 120 of them and yes, they were all in it.

              Basically it’s a marvel that under all the chaos of the political scene and recent ‘win-win'(said by Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim) ruling by the ICJ and the destruction of cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and not to mention the earthquakes we are able to stick together as one people, one nation.

               Call me mushy or whatever you want but heck, I just LOVE this music video. What we are lacking here now is just.. LOVE. Simple. With LOVE, hearts can be touched, friendships can be made and even trees could grow.

               So, spread some LOVE now! Tell the person who sits beside you now or your partner, boyfriends, girlfriends, you parents or even the first person who’s going to come into the room. Tell them that you love’em, no matter what happen you are going to get through it together and be each other’s pillar or shoulder to cry on. If your partner’s out of town or studying abroad, go and pick up the phone or sms them that you’ll always love them!

Because LOVE, it just UNITEs people 🙂

-peace-

PS- You can download the music video and also the song, here! 😀