Dr Mahathir: Explain 1Malaysia holistically

Dr Mahathir: Explain 1Malaysia holistically

Published: Monday August 2, 2010 MYT 5:24:00 PM
Former PM also calls for rape law to be amended

GEORGE TOWN: The 1Malaysia slogan must be explained in detail to the people of various races living in the country, to provide a holistic understanding of the concept, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"When I speak to the Chinese and Malays, they have differing views and cannot be united. I feel an in-depth explanation is needed," he told reporters here Monday when asked by delegates of the Malaysian Muslims Welfare Organisation (Perkim) about the people's confusion over the 1Malaysia slogan.

"They (people) do not know which one is for the Chinese or which one is for the Malays. If (they) ask me to explain, how can I explain? It was not me who introduced the slogan," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said the Government should consider the proposal to amend the law for rape because the existing law may be outdated.

"Times have changed. Pornography and pornographic pictures are easily available so when some see such movies or pictures, they lose their sense of direction and cannot decide what is right or wrong," he said.

Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh has called for the death penalty to be introduced for the rape of children and urged for Section 376 of the Penal Code (rape) to be amended to provide for the death penalty in such cases.

Under Section 376 (2) (e) of the current Penal Code, the punishment for raping children below the age of 12 is jail of not more than 30 years and caning. - Bernama