Saturday May 11, 2013

GE13: Celebs: Work for change through peaceful means

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian personalities have joined the call for peace and unity.

“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 some 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 Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, musician Pete Teo, fashion designer Datuk Bernard Chandran, plus comedians Harith Iskander and Kuah Jenhan.

“In the aftermath of the 13th general election, 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 and precisely for this reason, we need to unite and heal the rift, rather than create more divisiveness,” they said.

They added that pitting one community against another because they allegedly rejected the current 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.

For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site

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