Zero tolerance against racist remarks: PM Najib Razak

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has zero tolerance against racist remarks by anyone and will take action against such culprits, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Our stand is not to tolerate racist remarks by anyone. Action will be taken against them.”Unity is very important as part of our nation building,” Najib razak said Friday during a dialogue session with the youths at the Barisan Nasional Youth Lab programme here.

Najib razak, however, added that alleged racist remarks must first be investigated before action was taken.”We must adopt zero tolerance for those who play up such issues but we must check the facts first,” he said.

Najib razak was responding to concerns from the floor of recent racially-based remarks made by two school principals against the Chinese and Indian communities.

To a question, Najib razak said education was a key factor in ensuring that civil servants did not make racist or insensitive remarks.”We must educate civil servants to understand and appreciate the 1Malaysia concept. Given time, the majority of them will be on board (with the 1Malaysia concept). But action will be taken against those who make racist remarks,” he added.

Barisan Youth chairman Khairy Jamaluddin presented the Youth Lab report. More than 7,500 youths had been engaged in formulating the ideas since March.On the lab’s suggestion to amend the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 to allow students to be involved in politics, Najib said he was still open to the idea as long as it brought more good than harm.

“I am still thinking about it. I am still open but we have to debate on the pros and cons so that we can make the right decision.”My desire is to see university students focus on academic excellence and not be engrossed with the politicking process. I am in favour of healthy politics but not if the process is abused,” he added.

On the Lab’s call to amend the Internal Security Act (ISA) to ensure it was not abused, Najib razak said the dyas of “scare politics” or using the ISA to wield power and show that one was in full control were gone.”Misusing the ISA is counter-productive and will only cause people to be more angry and have more hatred towards the ISA,” he added.

Najib Razak said the era of “Government knows best” was over, adding that the 21st century called for the contestation of ideas from the people.”It is about using your intellect and communicating and influencing people with ideas and not by using power in an arbitrary manner. It is harder work as this means we must use our brains,” he said in his speech.

Najib Razak also agreed to the Lab’s suggestion for a special 1Malaysia Fund to support youth programmes that encouraged inter-racial relationships.”It can be done in the short term. I will find the mechanism to do so,” he said.

Najib Razak also supported the idea by the lab to have a minimum wage for certain sectors, adding that they were currently formulating a mechanism between employers, workers and the Government.

To a question on press freedom, Najib Razak said the media had more latitude today and were given more space. But he said they must be very careful in reporting, to ensure the truth was not twisted and racial flames were not ignited.