Petaling Jaya, Jan 29- S Ambiga has hit out at Najib Tun Razak for condoning the escalating racial and religious tensions in the country.
The former co-chairman of electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 yesterday lashed out at the premier for not taking firmer action against those inciting hatred among the people.
“This situation among the races is being condoned by the leadership,” Ambiga told an audience at a forum organised by DAP last night.
“That’s my inference because as far as I’m concerned, you can stop it and if you don’t, you are condoning it,” she added, referring to Najib.
Ambiga said the prime minister, together with Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar, have the power to stop the escalating tensions.
Ambiga criticised Najib for calling on Malaysians to remain calm. She believed the premier should have taken firmer action by warning those involved that they would face stern punishment.
She added that Putrajaya must make a firm stand of zero tolerance towards those who incite hatred and racism.
“That’s what he should say instead of asking people to ‘keep calm’. That’s nonsense,” she said.
“These groups (those who incite hatred) have become bolder because they know they are beyond the law, they can say or do anything they want and nobody touches them.
“That’s what I’m concerned about and it is created by the country’sleadership,” she added.
Leadership vacuum
Ambiga praised Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s call for a national consensus to resolve ongoing national issues.
“Let them set the agenda for the country and show leadership. We have a leadership void and someone has to fill it.”
Racial and religious tensions between Christians and Muslims have reached an all time high with controversial banners being hung outside three churches in Penang earlier this week.
Additionally, a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the compound of the Church of Assumption in Lebuh Farquhar on Monday.
Penang Umno has since urged Penangites to remain calm and refrain from reacting to the controversial banners depicting Jesus as the son of Allah and the Molotov cocktail attack on a church in the state.
Penang Umno liaison committee chairman Zainal Abidin Osman believed that the provocative acts were the work of irresponsible quarters to spark an unhealthy situation in the state.
-FreeMalaysiaToday
