2/3/2010, 1:24 a.m. EST
JULIA ZAPPEI
The Associated Press
(AP) — KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - An aide to Malaysia's prime minister plans to resign after allegedly calling ethnic Indian and Chinese citizens "immigrants" in an embarrassment for the government's faltering campaign to promote harmony in this multiracial country.
The prime minister's office made the announcement in a statement received Wednesday, saying that aide Nasir Safar's alleged remarks did not "in any way reflect the views of the prime minister."
"Nasir never intended to make any derogatory remarks," the statement said. "Nevertheless ... Nasir apologizes for any offense caused."
According to local news reports, Nasir said during a speech in southern Malacca state on Tuesday that Indians and Chinese were "immigrants," and that the government would revoke Indians' citizenship if they demanded equal rights.
Nasir could not immediately be reached for comment.
Most Indians and Chinese, who form about 40 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people, have lived here for several generations. Their forefathers came here during British colonial times as laborers, civil servants and businessmen. About 60 percent of the population is made up of ethnic Malays, who consider themselves indigenous.
Nasir's comments came at a time of soaring religious and racial tensions following vandalism at more than a dozen places of worship amid a feud over the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims.
The attacks followed a Dec. 31 High Court ruling that Christians are allowed to use the word "Allah" in their Malay-language publication, overturning a government ban. The ruling upset some Muslims. The government says Christians using "Allah" may entice Muslims to convert.
The attacks have undermined Prime Minister Najib Razak's "1Malaysia slogan" of majority Malay Muslims living in harmony with ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, who mainly practice Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism.
http://www.syracuse.com/religion/index.ssf?/base/international-24/126518909976850.xml&storylist=religion
