PUTRAJAYA: Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has been urged to provide concrete evidence or issue a public apology immediately for his claims that non-Muslims make up the majority of those arrested for bribery. DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke criticized Muhammad Sanusi, calling the allegations baseless and irresponsible. Loke expressed concern over the negative impact such sweeping statements could have on Malaysia’s multi-racial society. “I challenge Sanusi to present the evidence. What study supports your assertions? If Sanusi fails to provide evidence, he should publicly apologize,” Loke stated in a press release on Wednesday (July 12).
Loke, who is also the Seremban MP, emphasized that corruption should not be linked to a particular race and that all parties have a responsibility to combat graft. It should be noted that Muhammad Sanusi did not provide any data to support his claims when he alleged that non-Muslims constituted the majority of those arrested for bribery. In a recent podcast, he supported PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s claims that non-Muslims were the cause of corruption in Malaysia. Sanusi specifically pointed fingers at DAP for initiating a narrative that Malay leaders were involved in bribery. “I stand with Tok Guru (Abdul Hadi) in stating that if something is true, I will speak up. Just take a look at the records of those arrested for giving and receiving bribes – many of them are non-Muslims. This is a fact,” he claimed during the Keluar Sekejap podcast hosted by Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan on the night of July 11.
It is crucial for public figures to provide solid evidence when making serious allegations that could impact the perception of a particular community. As Malaysia strives for unity and harmony among its diverse populace, irresponsible statements can only serve to widen societal divisions. The allegations made by Muhammad Sanusi require substantiation, and if none is forthcoming, a public apology is the least that should be done to rectify the situation. All Malaysians share the responsibility of promoting mutual understanding and combatting corruption, irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
