Rafidah: Stop playing to the gallery

Former minister Rafidah Aziz has urged Malaysians to assume responsibility for building a harmonious nation, instead of pandering to specific races through superficial role-playing.
Addressing some 500 participants at a students' summit in Kuala Lumpur, Rafidah said politicians in particular should stop "playing a role" as it implies putting on an act to target only a certain group of people rather than all Malaysians.
Her remarks today came in the wake of de facto unity minister P Waythamoorthy's Tamil statement on Aug 11, in which he disagreed with teaching of khat in Tamil schools.
In an email to Malaysiakini, Waythamoorthy's senior private secretary Alan Kirupakaran subsequently denied the quotes attributed to the minister, although another aide later said the statement - also based on the minister's interview with a Bernama Tamil news programme - was only intended for the Tamil press.
More than just playing the role of a politician, Rafidah said assuming the position must come with conviction, commitment and responsibility in carrying out their duties to the people.