PM: Riots not the Malaysian way

The STAR 17 September 2007

By IAN MCINTYRE

TANAH MERAH: Malaysia does not condone riots or street mobs as it is not the country’s way of life or culture, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Furthermore, most religious teachings did not call on their followers to incite violence as a way of resolving anything, he said.

For their welfare: Abdullah presenting aid to single mothers and the poor in Pasir Mas yesterday. With him is Annuar (second from right). — Bernama

“I don't condone any street mob and I will not accept it as a reason to cause hurt.

“Malaysians must be grateful that we are living in a peaceful country especially in the holy Ramadan month,” Abdullah said when addressing some 10,000 people at a meet-the-people session in SMK Tanah Merah I.

Also present were his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, state Umno head Datuk Seri Annuar Musa and his deputy Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin, state Umno secretary Datuk Ramzi Ab Rahman, Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and Tanah Merah Umno division head Datuk Hashim Safin.

Abdullah also said that a total of RM378mil under the Ninth Malaysia Plan had been allocated for the district and it involved seven projects.

He said that to realise the benefits of development, the cooperation of everyone, from politicians to senior government officers to the people, is required, he added.

Noting the presence of non-Muslims during the breaking of fast, he said it was a good tradition and hoped that it would continue in this multi-racial and multi-religious country.

Earlier, when presenting aid to 3,000 single mothers and the poor in constituencies under the Pasir Mas and Rantau Panjang parliamentary areas, Abdullah stressed he did not want any Malaysian to cite poverty as a reason for not sending a child to school or not sitting for a required public examination.

He said this was the main aim of abolishing school fees announced in the recent 2008 Budget.

He also urged everyone not to forget their parents and remember the sacrifices they had made.

“Many Kelantanese in Kuala Lumpur are successful but many of them came from poor homes. So please care for your parents when you go home for this festive season,” he said.

He also asked Malaysians to donate generously to Indonesians affected by the recent earthquake.