KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 – The Indian community was today reminded not to be influenced by racial sentiments being played up by certain quarters. Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat, Datuk Raja Nong Cik Raja Zainal Abidin said he regretted that these groups were using the politics of hate to win voter support in the 13th general election.
“All religions encourage us to bring ourselves closer to each other instead of being divisive,” he said after the laying of the foundation stone for the Sri Nageshwari Aman temple and launching of its building fund, here, today.
Raja Nong Chik, who is also Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister, also hit out at the organising of ceramah that sowed and encouraged hatred towards BN although BN was inclusive towards all races. He noted that the BN government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had been tackling many issues that were close to the hearts of the Indians in this country, including on education, urban poverty and religion.
“Through cooperation between the temple committee and Lembah Pantai People’s Service Centre, we have managed to identify the less fortunate and helped them through efforts such as the house rental assistance scheme,” he further noted.
He also thanked the Indian community in Lembah Pantai and the surrounding areas for their encouraging response. Earlier, Raja Nong Chik handed over a cheque for RM100,000 for the rebuilding of the Sri Nageshwari Aman temple which is expected to cost RM3.5 million. The work will begin in September and expected to be completed within 18 to 24 months.
BERNAMA
