KUCHING: A political analyst has reminded Malayans to stop using race and religion as a political tool and instead adopt Sarawak’s unity slogan ‘Segulai Sejalai’ (Together in Unity) for national harmony.
Fed up with the never-ending divisive political quarrels over race and religion in Malaya, Datuk Peter Minos said politicians in the peninsula were treading dangerous waters by harping on sensitive issues.
“There is nothing we in Sarawak can say or do about things in West Malaysia. We can only set a good and wise example like practising ‘Segulai Sejalai’.
“We can show that, despite having many races and religions and many cultures, we can live with each other in general peace and harmony,” he said in a press statement today.
On June 7, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the ‘Segulai Sejalai’ tagline would be adopted to instil unity among Malaysians of various racial and religious backgrounds.
Anwar was impressed by the Iban slogan and said he would urge Malaysians to adopt the slogan nationwide.
“The Prime Minister (perhaps) thought that was something worth commenting on.
“As fellow Malaysians, we hope our West Malaysian friends will learn from Sarawak’s practice of avoiding race and religion for politicking, as well as not using racial and religious issues to win in elections,” he said.
Minos, who is also Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman, stressed that Sarawak is lucky and fortunate that no racial group is “too big and too dominant” as each group genuinely needs the other which is not the case in Malaya.
“We in Sarawak are also fortunate in that, from day one, the leaders of all the races are pretty sensible, fair and reasonable on all matters and are wise, always steering away from racial and religious issues for politicking.
“Sarawakians are of course the wiser and better in perpetuating the ‘Segulai Sejalai’ tagline and never allow the so-called ‘West Malaysian disease’ to sneak in and take root in the Land of Hornbills,” he added.
