Published: Friday May 10, 2013 MYT 9:00:00 PM

GE13: Malaysian celebrities call for peace, unity and reconciliation

By QISHIN TARIQ

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian personalities too have joined the call for peace and unity, in response to the aftermath of the 13th General Election.

"We agree with the need for national reconciliation and call on all politicians, the media and activists to exercise restraint in their words and actions and work for change through peaceful means," said the celebrities, in a joint press statement endorsed by 67 signatories.

The signatories consisted of well-known members of various industries, including writer Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, actors Hans Isaac and Maya Karin, TV hosts Asha Gill and Elaine Daly, dancer Ramli Ibrahim, musician Pete Teo, fashion designer Datuk Bernard Chandran, plus comedians Harith Iskander and Kuah Jenhan.

"In the aftermath of the 13th General Elections, we are saddened by the racial tone of statements made by some of our political leaders as well as some media and blogs.

"The election results may not have pleased everyone but precisely for this reason, we need to unite and heal our rifts, rather than create more divisiveness," they said.

They added that pitting one community against another because they allegedly rejected the incumbent government would set up dangerous divisions within the society and markedly raise the threat of violence.

"All parties have agreed that change is needed in our beloved country, whether it is called 'transformation' or 'ubah'," they said.

They said change must be achieved through peaceful means, including through the ballot box.

"It is the democratic right of all Malaysians to lodge any objection to the election results due to concerns about fraud or mismanagement," they said.

They urged individuals and civil society groups to submit objections to the Election Commission or through the court system, rather than by spreading rumours through social media sites.

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