“I also urge Utusan as an influential media organisation in Malaysia to be more responsible and cautious in their writing because they can mislead the public, and to be more inclusive and open when talking about policies and initiatives by the government, instead of turning it into a racial issue,” Heng said in a statement today.
“As a multi-racial country which has been independent for over 55 years now, I am truly disappointed to see that race is still the main consideration instead of national interest,” she added.
The editors of Malay broadsheet Mingguan Malaysia — the Sunday edition of Utusan Malaysia — had in an editorial yesterday panned the project, saying that it would only benefit the Chinese community.
Writing under the shared “Awang Selamat” moniker, the editors claimed a strong Chinese image in the Bukit Bintang area already made it resemble Hong Kong.
The newspaper also attacked Chinese voters, saying that they have never supported the Barisan Nasional (BN) government and that giving them “the moon and the stars” would not garner further appreciation.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, however, brushed off Utusan Malaysia's criticism today and told The Malay Mail Online that the Jalan Alor project would proceed as planned.
Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun also said today that the project would boost the country's tourism appeal and benefit Malaysians at large, instead of just the Chinese.
Heng similarly said that there was nothing wrong with promoting local food as a tourist attraction.
“However, as Malaysians who appreciate our multi-cultural value, we also hope that their effort won’t stop there but will be extended to develop other types of food hubs for Malay food, Indian food, Nyonya food etc at other places to further promote the local food industry,” she said.
“By promoting our local food, we can also help to boost our tourism and hospitality industry which will in turn help to increase our nation’s revenue, thus expanding the economic pie to benefit everyone of all races. So for Utusan to say that only the Chinese will benefit is wrong,” added the MCA deputy national organising secretary.
Last month, KL Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib announced a project to upgrade Jalan Alor into a “food paradise of international standards”.
Ahmad Phesal had said that quality furniture, including an efficient waste disposal and water system, would be provided to merchants to preserve the hygiene in the former red-light district.
The project to upgrade Jalan Alor to become the global “Food Paradise” is scheduled to begin in October and is expected to be completed 11 months later.
Post time 27-8-2013 04:26 PM
变色卡
Author
MCA publicity chief Datuk Heng Seai KieKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — Utusan Malaysia's attack against a Chinese food hub planned here revealed the narrow racial demands that continue to trump national interest even as the country prepares to celebrate Merdeka Day, said MCA's Datuk Heng Seai Kie.
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