Offended PAS wants DAP to censure Karpal

PAS has taken offence with a “callous remark” by DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh and urged that action be taken by its ally in Pakatan Rakyat.

In urging a radical shift in Malaysia's political landscape, Karpal had said that race- and religion-based political parties or associations should be deregistered or to be opened to everybody, regardless of either criteria.

Reacting in a statement, PAS publicity head Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (left) said the DAP must act because the remark goes against the Pakatan spirit.

"Such remarks will come back to bite DAP. We leave it to DAP to take necessary action but as for PAS, we strongly oppose his remark,”  Tuan Ibrahim said.

"What is the danger in PAS' fight for plurality in Malaysia? Evaluate for yourself PAS' record of maintaining racial and religious harmony when it ruled in Kelantan for over 23 years, Terengganu in 1999 and Kedah in 2008. Were the non-Muslims sidelined?"

He also said Karpal should have checked his facts before expressing his opinion.

Tuan Ibrahim warned that such remarks could also jeopardise public support for Pakatan as it could cast doubt on the unity of the opposition coalition.

'Go after BN, not PAS'

Meanwhile, PAS Youth vice-president Raja Ahmad Iskandar Al-Hiss (right) took the DAP leader to task for lumping PAS together with BN, especially Umno, which he said has tried to garner Malay support through its racially-skewed political slant.

"In Malaysia, PAS is the only party that puts Islam at the centre of its fight and that's indisputable.

"But we stand firm against racism and at the same time strive to foster unity in this country," he said in a statement, citing the PAS supporters club as an example as it accepted members from every race and religion.

In a separate statement, another Youth wing leader, Kamaruzaman Mohamad from Wilayah Persekutuan demanded that Karpal retract his remark and openly apologise to PAS.

"Even if Karpal Singh truly wants Malaysia become more united, his suggestions are very extreme.

"Maybe he isn't aware of how state governments under Pakatan Rakyat have managed well without any issues of race and religion arising.