KUALA LUMPUR – Any accusations claiming the Local Government Development Ministry challenged the interests of Malays and Bumiputera in the country are nonsensical, said its minister, Nga Kor Ming.
He said the allegations, which quickly came after plans to nominate Chinese new villages in Selangor as Unesco World Heritage Sites, were illogical as it was merely at the nomination stage.
“I welcome the suggestions from various parties to nominate a Malay village, or any historic location with potential, as Unesco heritage sites,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook today.
“As stated by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, the suggestion of nominating a Chinese new village in the state as a heritage site is still under discussion, and it should not be a racial issue.”
Nga said the suggestion was not a “zero-sum game,” and the ministry still upholds the Malaysia Madani principle, which focuses on six values – sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust, and compassion.
The ministry’s leadership philosophy has always been based on the Rukun Negara as well, he added.
“I am determined to ‘walk the talk.’ Actions speak louder than words. Throughout 2023, the ministry has implemented various people-friendly initiatives, irrespective of race and religion,” he said.
For instance, Nga said the ministry introduced the Development Planning Guidelines (GPP) of Royal Cities to preserve their identity as a symbol of national sovereignty.
The guidelines apply to nine royal cities in the Peninsular as development guides covering aspects of heritage, identity, the economy, and tourism.
He added that the ministry expedited the application process of local authorities’ upgrading procedures, to provide recognition to the departments that meet the needs of both the government and the people, besides increasing local economic growth.
Previously, the media reported Nga as saying that plans were being drawn up to nominate Chinese new villages in Selangor as Unesco World Heritage Sites to recognize the cultural and historical significance of these settlements.
It was met with bemusement from various quarters, including the Gabungan NGO Melayu-Islam, which said the nomination had racial elements and called for the government to remove Nga.
Meanwhile, Persatuan Kebajikan Islam dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia’s president, Datuk Mohd Foad Mat Isa, slammed the suggestion for touching on racial issues and attempting to manipulate historical facts, besides harming Selangor’s future development.
Film director and producer Michael Ang also criticised the suggestion on Instagram, questioning its appropriateness as the Chinese village was not 100 years old or over. – February 8, 2024