Having stirred controversy by refusing to wear the Malay head gear, the songkok, in 2006, DAP leaders are at it again, this time over an elected representative’s decision to don the traditional Malay costume.                    

This comes after Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San posted a photograph of himself in baju melayu and songkok as part of a Facebook invitation for his Hari Raya open house event.

The move drew criticism from a senior lecturer at DAP's Social Democracy Academy, Hew Kuan Yau ( right ), as going overboard to attract Malay support.

“Should we need to do so in order to express goodwill to our Malay friends? Am I too conservative?” Hew asked Lau on the social media site.

The DAP firebrand speaker - who has earned the moniker 'Superman' for his T-shirts - wondered sarcastically if DAP should also promote inter-racial marriages so that everybody could assimilate into a ‘1Malaysia’ race, like the Chinese minorities in Thailand and Indonesia.

Agreeing with Hew, DAP Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him said Lau need go as far as dressing like a Malay person. 

Responding to his critics, Lau stressed that it was not hypocritical for him to do so and that it was a show of respect to the Malay community.

Saying that this was not the first time he was wearing the baju melayu, Lau also pointed out that many female DAP representatives wear the baju kurung when visiting their respective constituencies.

‘Symbol of cultural hegemony’

Lau said he understands that DAP had previously resisted the Malay traditional dress as it saw the costume as a symbol of cultural hegemony.

However, he stressed, wearing the Malay traditional costume will not turn one into a Malay or Muslim.

Lau ( left ) said many elderly Chinese constituents snapped pictures with him when he began wearing the Malay traditional costume for the Hari Raya events he organised since he was first elected in 2008.

“My wife and family have no problem with the costume. My wife even accompanied me to buy my first Malay traditional costume and songkok.

“My opponent - MCA - did not use this issue to attack me during the general election. If the voters and opponent had no problem with this, then I view it as a good thing, it shows their democratic consciousness is improving,” he said.

“The Chinese voters seek a government that is clean and able to provide fair treatment. If you are such government, the Chinese voters will not care what kind of traditional costume you wear,” he added.

In another Facebook posting, Lau said that he didn’t think Hew was criticising him, but merely calling for a review of the party strategy to woo Malays.

Hew recently wrote a lengthy piece in the party-owned journal on the reason for DAP’s defeat in the recent Teluk Intan by-election.

In the article, he argued that the party is losing its traditional support among Chinese voters as DAP is focusing too much on winning the hearts and minds of the Malays.