UMNO Youth's wins wide support attracting Malay, Muslim and Chinese organisations ---
Singapore Straits Times reports 6th Feb 2003
Umno Youth 's anti-war drive , Malaysians for Peace to oppose the US-led war on Iraq has attracted not only the support of Muslim and Malay-based organisations, but has drawn in hundreds of Chinese non-governmental organisations as well.
Critics have argued that Chinese support for a relatively neutral cause has not been surprising and have pointed out that Chinese business interests are against the war anyway because of the negative effects on the economy
There has been extensive media coverage of the drive in newspapers and on television, with Malaysians bombarded by images of politicians, community leaders and schoolchildren signing on for the anti-war campaign. With the noble objective of peace, the campaign has even received the support of opposition parties in signing on for the petition.
Last week, the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall played host to a Malaysians For Peace event.Leaders of clan associations and petty traders, educationists and academics took turns to take the stage in support of the anti-war drive. More than 1,000 Chinese business and community organisations have pledged to take part in the signature drive.
Many have been surprised by the extent of support among ordinary Chinese. Within two days of starting the drive, more than 20,000 signatures had been collected by the Chinese organisations.
But the campaign has also been received cynically by some quarters, especially in the opposition parties, many of which have publicly supported the petition but privately criticised it as an attempt to boost support for the Barisan Nasional government. But opposition leaders such as Parti Islam SeMalaysia Youth chief Mahfuz Omar have criticised the campaign, saying it was a drive to boost the image of Dr Mahathir.
UMNO Youth's wins wide support attracting Malay, Muslim and Chinese organisations ---
Singapore Straits Times reports 6th Feb 2003
Umno Youth 's anti-war drive , Malaysians for Peace to oppose the US-led war on Iraq has attracted not only the support of Muslim and Malay-based organisations, but has drawn in hundreds of Chinese non-governmental organisations as well.
Critics have argued that Chinese support for a relatively neutral cause has not been surprising and have pointed out that Chinese business interests are against the war anyway because of the negative effects on the economy
There has been extensive media coverage of the drive in newspapers and on television, with Malaysians bombarded by images of politicians, community leaders and schoolchildren signing on for the anti-war campaign. With the noble objective of peace, the campaign has even received the support of opposition parties in signing on for the petition.
Last week, the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall played host to a Malaysians For Peace event.Leaders of clan associations and petty traders, educationists and academics took turns to take the stage in support of the anti-war drive. More than 1,000 Chinese business and community organisations have pledged to take part in the signature drive.
Many have been surprised by the extent of support among ordinary Chinese. Within two days of starting the drive, more than 20,000 signatures had been collected by the Chinese organisations.
But the campaign has also been received cynically by some quarters, especially in the opposition parties, many of which have publicly supported the petition but privately criticised it as an attempt to boost support for the Barisan Nasional government. But opposition leaders such as Parti Islam SeMalaysia Youth chief Mahfuz Omar have criticised the campaign, saying it was a drive to boost the image of Dr Mahathir.
