Maru’s racist comments against Asians a shame

 I WAS watching the EMTV 6pm news on May 29 and was dismayed and truly shocked by Minister Richard Maru holding some rally in his electorate. 

The good minister attacked my clients from Malaysia and their legitimate oil palm development operations, referring them as ol Kongkong and that the operation was illegal and ol i stealim graun. 

The minister was referring to the Turubu Oil Palm project in the Sepik Plains, which my clients have been developing jointly with the landowners over the last five years. 

Such use of race-related language to incite emotions among the people is uncalled for and most regrettable. 

For a senior state minister to utter such racist and bigotry comments against not only my clients, but the wider Asian community both residing and doing business in PNG as well as their respective countries is truly of great concern and very alarming. 

In this day and age, there is no room for racists and bigots, and Minister Maru must be held accountable and apologise to my clients and the Asian community. 

It reflects badly on the O’Neill government for one of its senior ministers to refer Asians as kongkongs on national television. 

Minister Maru recently returned from China and signed a number of important trade agreements with our neighbours, including the Philippines. 

It is a shocker and complete hypocrisy for him to disparage Asians for whom PNG as a nation has had very close ties with over so many years and has always enjoyed cordial bilateral relationships with. 

Peter Kuman , Via email