MAINTAIN RACIAL UNITY CALL TO THE PEOPLE

KEMAMAN, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek has called on the people to maintain racial unity.

He said the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government had helped to forge
unity among the people over the last 51 years since independence was gained and
that the people should play a similar role.

"We have to ensure that the unity that we have forged remains intact and is
not undermined by anyone," he said when launching the Lantern Festival at
Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Chukai, here last night. Also present was
Deputy Information Minister Tan Lian Hoe.

Ahmad Shabery, said that all along people of any one community have been
able to accept an elected
representative from another because they were convinced the candidate would be
able to serve them well.

He also said that the people should not have any doubt about their BN
leaders being able to safeguard the rights of all communities.

"For example, the government has agreed to build a hall for the use of the
Chinese community in this town (Chukai) because we know of their need," he said.