FOCUS on real issues such as soaring prices of basic necessities instead of obsessing over the attire worn by female DAP leaders during visits to places of worship, DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng tells veteran leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau.
“For a DAP male leader to fuss over the clothing worn by Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh when visiting a mosque is no different from the extremist and primitive PAS leaders who want to control what women can or cannot wear.
“Not only it is gender insensitive but also show that we are just as intolerant and regressive as PAS,” he said, in a statement.
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that in a leaked Whatsapp communication, Johor DAP committee member Dr Boo Cheng Hau had criticised Yeoh for wearing a headscarf during a community event held at a mosque in her constituency.
“Maybe all of our women reps should wear the hijab not only in mosques but all over in public markets, churches, schools and so on.
“Best still, all should convert to Islam. Then we will be ensured to win Putrajaya in the next general election. What say you smart dudes?” the former state party chief was reported asking.
However, Yeoh defended herself by saying that wearing a headscarf does not mean it would change her race or religion.
“Our diversity and respect for each other is our greatest strength. I will not apologise for wearing a selendang in a mosque.
“I wore it with conviction that it is the right thing to do for my Muslim brothers and sisters. Live in moderation; this is the Malaysia I am committed to rebuild!” she said, in a Twitter post.
Celebrate multi-cultural M’sia
On that note, Lim said that showing respect to another religion in a place of worship cannot be construed as abandoning one’s own faith or attempting to appease other party.
The former finance added that leaders, in fact, should be supportive of any effort to promote mutual respect and tolerance among multi-cultural Malaysia.
“Would wearing a turban or head covering when visiting a Sikh temple receive similar criticism? Unfortunately, such unjustifiable criticism by one state leader has cast a bad light on the entire party,” he lamented.
Lim then urged his party leaders to focus on pressuring the Government to inject RM3 bil in a National Price Stabilisation Fund to contain soaring prices of food prices.
“Prices of eggs, chickens, bread, vegetables, cooking oil, ice cubes and even imported fertilisers, insecticides and labour have soared.
“And it has adversely affected the livelihood of the rakyat by slashing purchasing power of many households by more than half,” the Bagan MP remarked. – Dec 4, 2021
