HOUSING and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming intends to hold discussions with UMNO leaders regarding his suggestion to nominate new Chinese villages in Selangor as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
This comes after criticism from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi party.Several UMNO leaders claimed the proposal touched on the position of the Malay-Bumiputera community.UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said that the recent racially charged statements made by DAP leaders are not only dangerous to the sensitivity of the people but also to the harmony of society.Hence, the top leaders of the DAP are urged to be more careful when issuing statements, as it is feared they could offend the feelings of the Malay and Bumiputera communities.UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Wajdi Dusuki rejected the proposal from Nga, saying the implications were too big and indirectly affected the Malay-Bumiputera position in the country.Meanwhile, Nga claimed he had already contacted UMNO leaders to iron out the matter.“I have already contacted Umno leaders to discuss this matter. We invite them to engage in discussions so that we can deliberate and understand the facts so that they are not misled by the opposition,” he said to the media today.Moreover, Nga also assured his ministry that it would conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to assess the proposal’s viability.“Upon obtaining the study’s results, and if deemed feasible, I will bring the matter for deliberation at the Cabinet level.“I urge all parties to refrain from framing this issue as one rooted in racial tensions, as such narratives only serve to divide us. We must steer clear of divisive attitudes.”Furthermore, Nga recently stated that the proposal to nominate Chinese new villages in Selangor as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was to recognise their cultural and historical importance since they were formed 76 years ago.Earlier this week, Nga came under fire after his MPV was spotted tailgating an ambulance, allegedly to get out of a traffic jam.He was also requested to step forward and explain the MPV driver’s actions, no matter if he was in the vehicle or not at the time.Now, he is once again in the spotlight, this time for proposing to nominate Kampung Baru Cina in Selangor as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to recognise the cultural and historical significance of the settlement.His proposal has also caught the attention of a local film director Michael Ang, who took to his Instagram page to condemn Nga for the suggestion, adding that the proposal can cause further division among Malaysians. – Feb 11, 2024
