There is no need to focus on Dr Mahathir Mohamad's allegations on the awarding of citizenship in the country prior to Merdeka, at least until the completion of the ongoing royal commission of inquiry (RCI) in Sabah, says Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar.

NONEInstead, attention should be given to the ongoing RCI on illegal immigrants in Sabah as it unfolds, for it could reveal more witnesses providing a more rounded description of the issue, the Umno Youth chief said.

“We need not answer any comments on the RCI, including comparisons between this RCI and the pre-independence citizenship programme, until the inquiry is complete and the RCI is done with its work,” Khairy said.

He said this when asked to comment on former prime minister Dr Mahatir Mohamad’s suggestion that a commission be set up to investigate the granting of pre-Merdeka citizenships to illegal foreign immigrants.

This evening, MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek too joined Khairy in shooting down Mahathir’s call for an RCI to be established on citizenships awarded prior to Merdeka.

NONEChua said the the pre-Merdeka decision was arrived at consensus among Umno, MCA and MIC of the then Alliance Party, and there was no need to revisit it.

“No, why should there be a (royal) commission of inquiry when this was a consensus?

“And I don’t think Dr Mahathir was serious when he said that. What he was trying to say was that the government had given citizenship to people who are legally entitled to it.”

 “So this is a very old issue, we should not revisit, it’s a past, it’s a historical fact, well documented,” Chua told a press conference after the party’s presidential council meeting.

'Be more sensitive'

Constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari has said Mahathir’s proposal could affect the social contract between races as it presumes the awarding of citizenship to the Chinese and Indians by the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman was illegitimate.

As for the call by Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali for Muslims to burn the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible that uses the word ‘Allah’ to refer to ‘God’, Khairy urged all parties, regardless of race or religion, to be more sensitive when issuing statements.

All Malaysians, he said, possess deep feelings when it comes to the sanctity of their religion.

“My advise is that we must be cautious of our statements so that we do not hurt the feelings of any party.

“There are some who say Malaysians are too sensitive but all Malaysians, regardless of religion, love their respective beliefs.

“Therefore, I urge that we be careful and this (advice) is directed at all quarters,” he said.

Khairy, who is also Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) chairperson, was speaking to reporters after the ‘PUNB Biz Plan Challenge 2012' prize-giving ceremony in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Related stories

Ambiga: EC can't wait until after RCI to act

Tell the truth at Sabah RCI, Umno dares Anwar

Gerakan says Dr M's call for RCI can cause 'mistrust'

Sabah Bersih chief: RCI should subpoena Mahathir

Probe ex-Sabah EC director, demands Sarawak PKR chief

Overseas postal voters must satisfy '30-day' rule

Vast difference between citizenship in 1957 and 1990s

Dr M living in fear of his own shadow