Ipoh Barat MP M Kula Segaran questioned the government's efforts in restoring unity through the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), launched by Premier Najib Abdul Razak yesterday.

He alleged its race based policies contradicts the council's objectives.

NONE "Can Najib ( left ) therefore declare that the government is prepared to accept good policy recommendations made by the council...though they are in conflict with government's decisions and policies?" asked Kula Segaran in a press release today.

He said it could not be denied there are many factors which can cause disunity in a multi-racial and multi-religious country like Malaysia, with government policies the most significant.

"After more than four decades, the BN government is still keeping and implementing various race based policies," he held.

Kula Segaran also asserted that the NUCC should be given the liberty and power to review government policies thought to cause disunity and propose the necessary changes.

The NUCC consists of politicians, lawyers, academicians, civil rights activists and writers.

The council is established to promote unity amongst the people and to solve inter-ethnic issues. The NUCC is also part of the National Reconciliation Plan.

"The idea is to have a much more controlled-environment - as the NUCC will discuss issues of ethnicity, constitution, religion and other policies," Najib said at the launch.

He also said that if these issues become a polemic of discussion outside closed doors, it could bring adverse effects to inter-racial relations.

"So we need a closed-consultative council that can have open and frank discussions, added the premier.

NONE However Kula Segaran cited UN Special Rapporteur Frank La Rue's ( left ) statement that the federal government and the Home Ministry should allow the Catholic Church to use 'Allah' to refer to their God, and withdraw unconditionally from further litigation on this issue.

"If the Unity Council agrees with the views of this UN expert, will the government accept the council's recommendations?," countered Kula Segaran.

"Or will it be a case where the council can discuss anything behind closed doors but the government will only accept what it wants to accept.

"Just like how it has treated the good recommendations made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry headed by former Lord President Dzaiddin Abdullah (to enhance the operation and management of the police)?, he queried.

Kula Segaran also pointed out that if the government does not implement the necessary changes to restore unity, then Najib's call will be regarded as just talk.