Share the task of ensuring peace and harmony for continued economic development – that's the call of the Prime Minister to all Malaysians.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the responsibility of maintaining peace and harmony in the country did not rest on his shoulders alone but on all races.
“We're all together in this, as it is our collective responsibility, and we should respect one another and not make baseless accusations against each other.
“I want us to continue to live peacefully and harmoniously as citizens of this country,” he said at a meeting with leaders and members of the Indian community here.
The Prime Minister admitted that although much had been done by the Government for the people’s well-being, problems still arose from time to time, which required the collective effort of all to be resolved.
“Problems will be there but we work at overcoming them. Give us a chance to develop this country. What needs to be done, I will do, but it will take time. That is the nature of my work.
“I will strive to ensure that no race will lag behind in any field. I will not fail you,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the Government balanced its help on the basis of the country's racial composition, where the Malay community was the largest, followed by the Chinese and Indians.
“The Government will help whatever it can but to do my job, the country needs to peaceful and safe.
“That is why I had to take action recently,” he said, referring to the arrest of five Hindraf leaders under the Internal Security Act.
Abdullah, who is Kepala Batas MP, said it was a responsibility he had to carry out although there have been criticism and unhappiness over the action.
“This also happened to Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and Al-Ma’unah and they are my people, who believe in the same religion. But I had a duty to carry out.
“What is wrong is wrong. The law is colour blind. You must remember that we want Malaysia to be a peaceful place. We resolve problems by discussing them,” he said.
During the meeting, 14 Indian associations in Kepala Batas also handed a letter to Abdullah highlighting the needs of the community there.
The JI orchestrated four deadly bombings in Indonesia, including the 2002 and 2005 attacks in Bali which together killed 222 people, many of them tourists.
Al-Ma’unah, an extremist religious group, wanted to overthrow the Government by force and attempted an arms heist to further its cause, leading to a face-off with police and the armed forces at Bukit Jenalik in Perak in 2000.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the responsibility of maintaining peace and harmony in the country did not rest on his shoulders alone but on all races.
“We're all together in this, as it is our collective responsibility, and we should respect one another and not make baseless accusations against each other.
“I want us to continue to live peacefully and harmoniously as citizens of this country,” he said at a meeting with leaders and members of the Indian community here.
The Prime Minister admitted that although much had been done by the Government for the people’s well-being, problems still arose from time to time, which required the collective effort of all to be resolved.
“Problems will be there but we work at overcoming them. Give us a chance to develop this country. What needs to be done, I will do, but it will take time. That is the nature of my work.
“I will strive to ensure that no race will lag behind in any field. I will not fail you,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the Government balanced its help on the basis of the country's racial composition, where the Malay community was the largest, followed by the Chinese and Indians.
“The Government will help whatever it can but to do my job, the country needs to peaceful and safe.
“That is why I had to take action recently,” he said, referring to the arrest of five Hindraf leaders under the Internal Security Act.
Abdullah, who is Kepala Batas MP, said it was a responsibility he had to carry out although there have been criticism and unhappiness over the action.
“This also happened to Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and Al-Ma’unah and they are my people, who believe in the same religion. But I had a duty to carry out.
“What is wrong is wrong. The law is colour blind. You must remember that we want Malaysia to be a peaceful place. We resolve problems by discussing them,” he said.
During the meeting, 14 Indian associations in Kepala Batas also handed a letter to Abdullah highlighting the needs of the community there.
The JI orchestrated four deadly bombings in Indonesia, including the 2002 and 2005 attacks in Bali which together killed 222 people, many of them tourists.
Al-Ma’unah, an extremist religious group, wanted to overthrow the Government by force and attempted an arms heist to further its cause, leading to a face-off with police and the armed forces at Bukit Jenalik in Perak in 2000.
