HOME Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail emphasised that appointments in the Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysia Police are based on merit, discipline, and a thorough process, not on race or political views.
“Recently, when an individual was promoted to the rank of two stars, speculative statements emerged.
“The narrative given was as if, if this situation continues, one day the Prime Minister of Malaysia could be Chinese,” Saifuddin said on Saturday.
He was addressing recent comments from a PAS grassroots leader, Zaharudin Muhammad, who sparked controversy with a Facebook post suggesting it was “not impossible” for Malaysia to have an ethnic Chinese prime minister in the future.
The post included a photo of Johnny Lim Eng Seng, commandant of the Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College, receiving a third-star promotion.
Saifuddin criticized narratives that question racial representation in leadership roles.
The Home Minister urged avoiding racial perspectives, especially regarding the military, which follows a rigorous promotion process overseen by the Armed Forces Council.
“Not every issue needs to be commented on from a racial perspective, especially regarding the military institution, which is well-versed in the promotion process with screenings and evaluations through the Armed Forces Council,” he said.
He also supported a decree by Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, discouraging the use of religion for political purposes and efforts to divide racial unity. —June 29, 2025
Main image: New Straits Times
