‘Fire of racism’ dampened

APIA - Samoa’s prime minister has jumped to the defence of Chinese — levelling claims of racism against those who criticise China’s interest in Samoa.

A heated debate started when an MP of Chinese descent, Maualaivao Pat Ah Him, raised his concern over the regular negative reference to Chinese in parliament and the media.

Maualaivao entered Parliament in 2011 and is a major businessman with interests in retail, hotels and accommodations.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi strongly accused the Opposition “for burning the fire of racism against the Chinese” and claimed they were seeking political points by inciting racial dissention.

Tuilaepa accused “shortsighted politicians” of using “weak tactics to hide their true racist feelings towards the Chinese”.

By weak tactics he was referring to emotive comments suggesting Samoa has been “bought by China”.

“If it was not for China, we would not enjoy these big buildings and other major developments,” said Tuilaepa.

“The hospital which was recently opened was built by China, the office premises for MPs also built by China following a request by the Speaker in 1983,” he said.

He also pointed out that China and Japan are in the forefront of developing school buildings around the country.

“We have an election coming up. So speak constructively on developmental issues rather than burning the fire of racism to create animosity to disrupt and stop the government’s good works for the benefit of our children and future generations,” argued Tuilaepa.

He explained that while staying in Apia to go to school in the late 1950s, he saw old Chinese men then, carrying huge bamboos bags filled eggs, cabbages and various goods.

They walked long distances, and blew a whistle to tell the Samoans in their villages that they were there, the prime minister said.

“Samoans ridiculed and looked down on these old Chinese men and Tama Uli (people of Melanesian descent who were brought by the Germans to work in their plantations),” said Tuilaepa.

“But look at this Parliament,” he challenged. “We have those who are third, fourth generations of Chinese ancestry, and those of American, German, British and Tama Uli ancestry,” said Tuilaepa.

“We even have MPs who are of Tongan and Fijian ancestry whose forefathers came here in the 1400s who have helped develop this country. So shall we look at others but ourselves?” he challenged.

Tuilaepa warned the Opposition not to use “weak stories published by the newspapers only to sell their papers”.