PUTRAJAYA, Nov 17 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today it was unnecessary to commemorate the racial riots of May 13.“We should regard it as an event in the annals of history from which we can learn from ... as a demarcation for us so that it will not recur,” he said.
Najib spoke to reporters after a video conference with members of the Malaysian community and students in six countries in conjunction with Aidiladha, at the prime minister’s official residence Seri Perdana, here.
Also present at the session were Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.Najib was asked to comment on a proposal in an editorial by Utusan Malaysia for May 13 to be commemorated, similar to the racial riots of July 21, 1964 in Singapore, which the republic observes as Racial Harmony Day.
Utusan Malaysia columnist and deputy editor-in-chief Zaini Hassan had made the suggestion after Penang Opposition Leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim was suspended on November 1 for six months for having allegedly made “May 13” threats in the state assembly sitting.Although the proposal was objected to by Pakatan Rakyat, which lodged a police report claiming that it was seditious in nature, many quarters have expressed support saying it was a positive move to strengthen unity.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said the government was prepared to consider the proposal to commemorate the May 13 incident, but added that the government had yet to receive any proposal or give it any thought.Najib, when asked about the changes to be made to the Umno leadership, said he would look into the matter as he had been preoccupied with nursing himself back to health after being afflicted with chicken pox.
“I am thinking about it ... I was indisposed for two weeks due to illness (chicken pox). I am back to work now, and will look into it,” he said.At the Umno general assembly last month, Najib, who is also Umno president, said changes would be made to the Umno leadership at certain levels for the party to be better prepared to face the next general election.Asked whether he would reshuffle the Cabinet, the prime minister said: “Don’t tell me I should disclose that (to you). If there is a (Cabinet) reshuffle, then there will be one ... if there is none, then there will be none.” — Bernama
Source : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pm-learn-from-not-commemorate-may-13/
Also present at the session were Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.Najib was asked to comment on a proposal in an editorial by Utusan Malaysia for May 13 to be commemorated, similar to the racial riots of July 21, 1964 in Singapore, which the republic observes as Racial Harmony Day.
Utusan Malaysia columnist and deputy editor-in-chief Zaini Hassan had made the suggestion after Penang Opposition Leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim was suspended on November 1 for six months for having allegedly made “May 13” threats in the state assembly sitting.Although the proposal was objected to by Pakatan Rakyat, which lodged a police report claiming that it was seditious in nature, many quarters have expressed support saying it was a positive move to strengthen unity.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said the government was prepared to consider the proposal to commemorate the May 13 incident, but added that the government had yet to receive any proposal or give it any thought.Najib, when asked about the changes to be made to the Umno leadership, said he would look into the matter as he had been preoccupied with nursing himself back to health after being afflicted with chicken pox.
“I am thinking about it ... I was indisposed for two weeks due to illness (chicken pox). I am back to work now, and will look into it,” he said.At the Umno general assembly last month, Najib, who is also Umno president, said changes would be made to the Umno leadership at certain levels for the party to be better prepared to face the next general election.Asked whether he would reshuffle the Cabinet, the prime minister said: “Don’t tell me I should disclose that (to you). If there is a (Cabinet) reshuffle, then there will be one ... if there is none, then there will be none.” — Bernama
Source : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pm-learn-from-not-commemorate-may-13/
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