the Chinese

Wednesday, April 4, 2001 Think Malaysian, leaders urged KUALA LUMPUR: A coalition of Chinese youth groups wants Malaysian political leaders to think Malaysian rather than race when addressing problems affecting the nation. The coalition called for a stop to racial politics and urged leaders to look at problems from a Malaysian perspective. The collective call was made by Selangor Chinese Assembly Youth, Negri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall Youth, Gerakan Demokratik Pelajar dan Belia Malaysia, New Vision Studio, Red Rose Youth Centre, Majlis Graduan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Selangor Graduate Society. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, New Vision Studio editor Yong Kai Ping said Malaysians must care for all issues affecting the well-being of the citizenry.

the rakyat groups

Nik Aziz a true Muslim leader say Chinese Youth groups KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 (Hrkh) - Several Chinese Youth groups has come up in defence of Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, saying the Kelantan Menteri Besar's recent visit to Bukit pelandok has shown that " a true Muslim leader will not hestitate to understand the misery of the people regardless of their faith and economic activities". In a joint statement issued today, seven youth bodies deemed the visit as commendable as Nik Aziz was willing to listen to the plight of pig breeders and nipah virus victims "who are still suffering". The seven are the youth wing of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall , the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall youth wing, Gerakan Demokratik pelajar dan Belia Malaysia, New Vision Studio. Red Rose Youth Centre, Majlis Graduan Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur/Selangor Graduate Society. They also said that Nik Aziz's visit had not done any harm to the malay/Muslim community but has suceeded in "demonstrating the greatness and universality of Islam as a religion". They said the positive stance of the kelantan government as well as the Haji Abdul Hadi Awang led Terengganu administration towards "the poor pig breeders and Chinese education issues" have enhanced mutual understanding,respect and appreciation of waus of life between Muslims and non Muslims. Nik Aziz's Bukit Pelandok visit was however 'attacked' by the Prime Minister last week, claiming it was a "ploy to con the Chinese". In his speech at the launching of the "Pemimpin bersama rakyat' programme in sungai Mulia Gombak on March 28, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad hit out at "Kelantan's decision to give land for the building of Chinese schools" and Abdul Hadi "invitation for Chinese to open pig farms in Terengganu". Expressing "deepest regret", the seven youth bodies viewed Dr Mahathir's remarks as "malicious attacks" and "clear evidence that many, even at the highest level in government,still fail to see issues affecting malaysians from a non racial perspective". "As such we urge national political leaders to think Malaysian and stop playing racial sentiment", they said.