PETALING JAYA: The government needs to take strong action against politicians who sow disunity for their own self-interest, says former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

In a Facebook post describing such politicians as "chest-thumping" and "stumbling blocks" to national unity, she alleged that they were stirring up controversial issues to divide Malaysians without regarding the negative consequences.

"There is no doubt that the vast majority of people want and strive to live in a peaceful environment with goodwill and harmony.

"But, from time to time, driven by inflated egos and obvious ‘chest thumping’ display of assumed power and ‘importance’, there are those who simply act without regard for the negative consequences.

"It is like throwing sand into the ricepots of other people.

"It is hoped that the government and relevant authorities will take strong action and curtail such actions which are stumbling blocks to national unity," she said.

Rafidah said that the country couldn’t afford to be continuously distressed and distracted by unnecessary issues created and purposely "fanned" by people with their own personal political objectives but at the expense of the people and nation.

"If nothing concrete is done to stop such divisive actions, then Malaysia will lose out, because it will be perceived as a rudderless nation influenced by narrow-minded Napoleons, who give the impression that they are holding the leaders in the coalition government to ransom.

"The world is watching us," she added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/16/world-is-watching-us-time-to-restrain-narrow-minded-napoleons-rafidah-tells-govt