By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : The power-sharing pact among the parties of the pre-independence alliance that form Malaysia’s ruling Barisan Nasional, shall continue, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has said.
Razak harked back to the pre-independence alliance between Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tan Cheng Lock and V. Sambanthan, who represented the Malay, Chinese and Indian ethnic groups respectively, at a function here Saturday.
The inspiration of the three leaders who achieved Merdeka (freedom) and their vision of a multiracial state “will continue to be honoured by the Barisan Nasional”, said Razak as quoted in The Star.
“The spirit of unity among Barisan Nasional’s component parties is still crucial, the power-sharing concept and communal political understanding will be continued,” he said.
“This vigour among us (component parties) will be sustained and we will uphold the principles of our founding fathers,” he said after meeting with Barisan Nasional leaders here.
Razak said the Barisan Nasional fielded election candidates not based on race but in the spirit of communal politics amongst the component parties. “We don’t see whether he is Malay, Chinese or Indian,” he said.
Political analysts said Razak’s words gain significance in the light of the current turmoil following a rally staged by Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) last November, that was declared illegal and its leaders and rally participants being prosecuted.
Appeal of five top Hindraf leaders, detained for two years under the stringent Internal Security Act (ISA) are to come up for hearing before a panel Monday.