PKR’s decision to re-nominate Najwan Halimi for the Kota Anggerik state constituency seat following a recent comment he made which was laced with a racial slur does not sit well with PKR grassroot members in Kota Anggerik.
On July 13, Najwan landed himself in hot water by describing Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) as an “Indian estate party” in response to PSM’s announcement that the party will field social activist Sivaranjani Manickam in Meru for the election.
He has since apologised and denied the message was racial and prejudicial towards the ethnic Indians while pledging not to repeat the same offence again.
According to a grassroot member who was speaking to FMT on condition of anonymity, re-nominating the incumbent Kota Anggerik assemblyman will reflect badly on PKR and his nomination may cost the party to lose votes among the Indian community.
“Fielding someone who has made racist comments shows that the party is not bothered with its core values of fighting for all races.
“I am an Indian myself and was left speechless when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced Najwan as the candidate,” the source said, adding that many Indians in the party were uneasy about his candidature.
Anwar subsequently defended Najwa’s selection, arguing that “people make mistakes” and that he has the final say in such things.
“Never mind, people do make mistakes. Listen, listen. The position of the party is what is said by the president. We are here to serve the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians, the Dayak and the Kadazans,” he was reported as saying by MalaysiaNow.
However, according to the source, Anwar needs to recognise that this type of argument gives the idea that PKR “is no different from PAS” considering the fact that PKR has been known to condemn PAS for its racial rhetoric towards the Chinese and Indians.
“But now, we are allowing someone who made a racial comment towards the Indian community to contest. It’s unacceptable.
“Najwan’s apology is meaningless and PKR should have taken firmer action by barring him from contesting and even suspending him,” the source remarked.
On July 15, PSM deputy chairperson S. Arulchelvan said the party is not keen to lodge a police report on the alleged racial slur as the party has other important tasks to do instead.
“Many people are asking PSM to lodge a police report against Najwan for his racist comment but we just don’t want to burden the police who have so much other stuff to do.
“We also have other more important work to do like building a nation based on unity, respect and equality,” he was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.
Najwan is expected to defend his Kota Anggerik state seat, which he won in 2018 by defeating Jumaeah Masdi of UMNO and Ahmad Dusuki Abd Rani of PAS with a 17,004-vote majority. – July 25, 2023
Main pic credit: Facebook/Najwan Halimi
