KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — Kota Kemuning assemblyman Preakas Sampunathan has criticised remarks by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor linking Malaysians of Chinese and Indian descent to their ancestral countries, saying such statements undermine national unity and the shared identity of Malaysians.
In a statement on Friday, Preakas said comments suggesting that “Chinese have China and Indians have India” do not reflect the reality of Malaysia as a nation built by people of diverse backgrounds.
He stressed that Malaysian identity should be based on citizenship and contributions to the country rather than ancestral origins.
“Chinese Malaysians are not guests, and Indian Malaysians are not outsiders. They are Malaysians,” he said.
Preakas noted that generations of Malaysians from Chinese and Indian communities have played a vital role in shaping the nation through contributions to business, education, public service, the economy and national defence.
He warned that questioning the loyalty or belonging of citizens based on their ethnicity could foster division and create the perception that some Malaysians are less entitled to call the country home.
“The issue is not where someone’s ancestors came from. The issue is that they are Malaysians who were born here, raised here, built their lives here and contributed to this country,” he said.
The remarks were made in response to a speech by Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor during a political event in Jempol on Thursday night.
Sanusi said “Tanah Melayu” was the only homeland for the Malays, arguing that other ethnic communities had ancestral countries elsewhere.
He said Malays had no other place they could call home, while citing China, India, Cambodia and Thailand as the ancestral homelands of other ethnic groups.
Preakas acknowledged that Malaysia’s development has been driven by the collective efforts of all communities, saying the nation’s institutions, infrastructure and economy were built through the contributions of Malaysians from different racial and cultural backgrounds.
He also urged political leaders to avoid rhetoric that could deepen mistrust among communities and instead focus on strengthening national unity.
“As leaders, our responsibility is to bring Malaysians together, protect harmony and ensure every citizen knows this country belongs to them,” he said.
Preakas concluded by saying no Malaysian should be made to feel like a permanent outsider in their own country, adding that ethnicity should never determine one’s place in the nation.
–The Vibe
