PETALING Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung has slammed Bersatu politician Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, for his “narrow-minded” approach of playing up racial sentiments to incite people’s hatred for the unity government.
Lee was responding to Chegubard’s online post over multi-faith prayers held at the graves of May 13, 1969 racial riot victims, where Perikatan Nasional (PN) leader had claimed that Islam had been “attacked”.
“May 13 is a black tragedy in the country’s history. But after 55 years, narrow-minded individuals like Chegubard from PN still want to play on narrow racial sentiments to incite people’s hatred towards the Madani government,” the PKR lawmaker said in a statement on Wednesday (May 22).
“Concerning a memorial service for the victims organised by Persatuan Sahabat Warisan Kuala Lumpur and Selangor (Pesawa), Chegubard had spread slander that Islam had been attacked.”
Lee pointed out that Chegubard was not a “narrow-minded racist” back when he was a PKR member, but upon entering PN, “everything went wrong” for him to the point where he was often caught distorting facts and history for the purpose of gaining public attention.
For context, Chegubard, who is now a Bersatu information bureau committee member, was a prominent early member of Parti Keadilan Nasional during the reformasi era but PKR sacked him in 2016.
In his May 19 post on Facebook, Chegubard had commented on two issues, namely the party held aboard a KTMB train and the multi-faith prayers held to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the May 13 racial riots.
“Malaysia has reached the peak of liberal and pluralist evil. Does Islam have no value as a federal religion? Where is the faith? Where is the tauhid (the concept of monotheism in Islam)?” he said.
He also accused Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Transport Minister Anthony Loke of representing a “Malaysian Malaysia” and said that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar was ineffective.
May 13: Forging sympathy, empathy
Lee said perhaps in PN, Chegubard is too busy spreading slander, and as a friend, he was inclined to provide some historical facts on the cemetery in Sungai Buloh.
He pointed out that it is the resting place of those of all races including the Malays.
“It is also a reminder to all people that it is important to value consensus and unity in community life,” he remarked.
“As such, the act of the imam who recited the prayer in the area should not be an issue. Furthermore, Pesawa had also explained that the area is not only a ‘Chinese cemetery’, but rather it is a burial place for victims of various races, including the Malays.”
Lee went on to call for Malaysians to adopt a transparent and open attitude towards the May 13 tragedy to develop sympathy and empathy while nurturing the value of mutual forgiveness and appreciation for the reconciliation and wellbeing that exists today.
“Last month, Chegubard was just charged with slander and incitement as well as damaging the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he stated.
“Therefore, I would like to advise Chegubard and PN to stop playing on narrow racial sentiments and baseless slander.
“Rather, Chegubard and PN should focus on governing the coalition’s four states which so far have not had any outstanding development plan for the people.
“Chegubard should just focus on explaining PN’s policies to the people instead of playing up useless sentiments.” – May 22, 2024
