DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng has hit back at PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin after the latter had accused the party of playing up issues relating to race, religion and royalty (3R).
Lim said Khairil should call for stern action to be taken against the Islamic party’s president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang instead of telling Putrajaya to be fair when punishing political parties who touch on such issues.
The Bagan MP was responding to the PAS leader who yesterday (July 2) had called for the Communications and Digital Ministry to be fair when reacting to political parties that allegedly raised 3R issues.
“Khairil should be asking for stern action against his own president Abdul Hadi Awang if he is sincere and committed to stopping political leaders from using 3R issues in their statements,” Lim said in a statement today (July 3).
“To demand action against DAP leaders reacting to PAS extremist actions and racist statements against non-Muslims or even defend Penang from being bullied, which is clearly unconstitutional, PAS is behaving no differently from ‘a thief calling a victim a thief’.”
Lim further noted that Hadi himself had issued a lot of statements that touch on 3R sensitivities and had “deliberately denigrated, humiliated, discriminated and bullied non-Muslims”.
“Hadi accuses DAP leaders of fomenting Islamophobia by using the term ‘green wave’ when this term was used by PAS leaders as far back as 2018. This is clearly another classic case of wrong when used by DAP but correct when used by PAS,” he asserted.
Citing Hadi’s recent statement praising non-Muslims who dress in a “humane” manner with dignity, Lim said Hadi had called those who do not dress modestly as being “without shame” and “similar to animals who cannot think and have no dignity”.
“Should action not be taken against Hadi for such a divisive and extremist statement against non-Muslims to the extent of even implying that they have no shame like senseless animals?” Lim questioned.
The former Penang chief minister also touched on the issue of Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor who had previously said Kedah should reclaim Penang and suggested the Federal Constitution be amended to achieve this.
“In fact, the foul-mouthed Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has even called for the Federal Constitution to be amended to allow Penang to be reclaimed by Kedah,” an irate Lim said.
“In response to my criticism and strong defence of Penang’s right to exist as a state, Sanusi even turned racist by asking whether I dare to talk about history by asking which boat I came to Malaysia.
“This is not only extremist and racist but also irresponsible by ignoring the fact that not only I but both my parents were born in Malaysia.”
Lim stressed that he will not back down from speaking and mobilizing public support to stop Sanusi from unilaterally wanting to amend the Federal Constitution to extinguish Penang’s sovereignty to return it to Kedah without the consent of 1.8 million Penangites.
“DAP leaders will continue to speak up without fear or favour against corruption as well as to defend the rights of Malaysians from being bullied by racists and extremists in PAS and Perikatan Nasional (PN),” the former finance minister added. – July 3, 2023
Main pic credit: The Star
