RACE RELATIONS ACT TO BE DRAWN UP, SAYS MINISTER

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- The government will draw up a race relations act to safeguard and strengthen relations among the different races in the country, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar disclosed Thursday.

He said the formulation of the proposed act which had been agreed upon by
the cabinet would be headed by his ministry and the Unity, Culture, Arts and
Heritage Ministry.

"These two ministries are working together on this act, with our respective
officers now at the discussion stage," he told reporters after officiating at
the Home Ministry's staff monthly assembly, here Thursday.

He said after the act had been approved, the Unity, Culture, Arts and
Heritage Ministry would be playing an important role in the area of race
relations as provided for under the act.

"The Home Ministry will provide the input in enforcement efforts to ensure
safety and national security," he said.

Syed Hamid said various aspects like integration, the education system and
the economy would be taken into consideration in drawing up the act, besides the
views of various quarters including non-governmental organisations.

"We need to get feedback from the public as ultimately, they will be the
practitioners. This piece of law is for the people."

He said his ministry would also refer to other countries like the United
Kingdom which had such an act in place, as a guideline and for comparison in
drawing up the act for Malaysia.

He believed the act would be able to guide Malaysians in safeguarding race
relations in the country, and they should view this positively as there would
be room for improvement before the act was passed.

"Under this act, action can be taken against those who disrupt harmony by
causing racial tension and conflicts that can also destabilise the country," he
said.

Asked when the act would be ready for implementation, Syed Hamid said the
target was soonest possible in view of the current situation in the
country.

Before this, Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai
had called for such an act to be introduced as a mechanism to strengthen race
relations in the country in light of sensitive issues being frequently raised of
late.

Meanwhile, in KUALA LUMPUR, the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)proposed
that an inter-race relations council be established to discuss and address
amicably issues concerning religion, language, culture and racial sensitivities.

Its president S. Samy Vellu said such a council was important to help
realise the government's efforts at strengthening racial unity which had
come under threat after the last general election.

"The people are worried about the current situation as a lot of racial
sensitivities are being raised by irresponsible quarters.

"So, let's go back to our original struggle of forging national unity for
the good of the people and country," he told reporters after chairing a meeting
of the MIC's central working committee today.

He said the inter-race relations council could be set up after the proposed
race relations act had become a reality.

Samy Vellu said the council could be represented by the various political
parties and religious and cultural organisations.

"The government needs to rebuild racial unity which will lead to national
unity. But we also need to caution all quarters not to stoke up hatred among the
various races in this country."

At the meeting, the MIC also conveyed it congratulations to Najib Razak for
being appointed the new finance minister, and expressed its support for the
prime minister and his deputy, as well as to BN in its mission to win back the
people's support through new approaches.

"The MIC supports the government in all its actions to ensure the country's
political stability and economic strength," said Samy Vellu.

However, he said, the MIC also urged the government to use the Internal
Security Act judiciously, and the Opposition to stop any action that could
destabilise the country.