SABERKAS WELCOME SHELVING OF RACE RELATIONS ACT

SIBU (Malaysia), Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Saberkas, East Malaysia state of
Sarawak's largest multiracial youth organisation with a membership of over
120,000, welcomes the cabinet decision to reject the proposed Race Relations
Act.

Its deputy president, Amar Abang Haji Johari Openg, said Wednesday the
act was not necessary.

"If we want to forge good relationship among the various races in the
country, it must be on the basis of voluntary interaction.

"If there is a law, it is as if there is the element of force for the people
to mix around," he told reporters here.

Earlier, he presented Chinese New Year contributions from the organisation
to about 100 children with special needs at the Sibu AGAPE Centre (a
community-based organisation for children with special needs).

Abang Johari, who is state Housing Minister, said that in Sarawak there was
already a very strong culture of racial harmony among its over 26 racial groups.

On Saberkas, he said efforts had and would be made to woo more Chinese
members who now comprised 15 per cent of its total members.

He also said that Saberkas would hold its next triennial delegates meeting
in Mukah town in April this year.
-- BERNAMA