In a statement, the group of prominent retired civil servants said some politicians were still playing up race and religion in public statements, claiming to be “saviours” of Islam and the Malays.
It added that it was unfortunate that some moderate Malay leaders had not come out strongly to support the inclusive and multiracial approach taken by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“By keeping quiet, they are leaving our reform-minded prime minister exposed to allegations that he is a liberal pursuing western values of democracy and human rights.
“His enemies even try to humiliate him by alleging (that) he has links to the CIA and the Jews. Such low-down politics must not be allowed to go unchallenged.
“For the purpose of safeguarding racial and religious harmony among citizens, G25 proposes the enactment of a law called the Racial and Religious Harmony Act,” it said.
G25 thanked the Malay rulers for calling on politicians to stop using race and religion to incite Malaysians, saying this was timely and encouraging.
“We have strong potential to become a fully developed country but if there is no unity among the races, we may sink to become a failed state.
“Our politicians should therefore take the advice of their Highnesses the rulers seriously to guide their political behaviour.”
Yesterday, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, urged politicians to stop using racial or religious issues to incite Malaysians against one another.
Chairing the 260th meeting of the Conference of Rulers at Istana Negara, he called on the new government to foster a spirit of togetherness among Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or culture.
Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung has called for an anti-hatred law, in light of various allegedly inflammatory statements from PAS leaders.
The PKR man said these attacks began a few months before the just-concluded 15th general election and intensified after the dissolution of Parliament and also after Perikatan Nasional failed to form the government.