Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been taken to task for his silence over opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's controversial statement on Israel.

zahrain hashim parliament 180310 Former PKR Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohd Hashim claimed Anwar's remarks in the Asian Wall Street Journal ( AWSJ ) had clearly "insulted the Palestinians" who have been and still are being oppressed in their own homeland for decades.

Zahrain, ( left ) now an Independent MP, asked if Lim would speak out, issue statements or call for press conferences only if the matter involved the Chinese community.

He also took a swipe at PAS, asking its leaders if this were indeed the true nature and politics of Lim who is often compared to popular Muslim leader Khalifah Omar Aziz, and whose leadership they have been praising all along.

"Where is the Amal maaruf, nahi mungkar (Muslim praise for good leadership) which Lim often recites when he lures Malays to vote the DAP?" asked Zahrain in his latest blog posting.

"Lately, the DAP has been very interested in Malay membership but why is the DAP totally silent when this issue is very close to the hearts of the Malays?" he queried.

Guan Eng CM for all?

He was referring to the former deputy prime minister who had reportedly said in an interview with the AWSJ that he supported "all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel" but said that his remark had been taken out of context.

NONE Anwar (left) was strongly criticised for the quote, with his former boss, ex-premier Mahathir Mohammad saying that Israel wanted a regime change in Malaysia, and was leaking trade information to the former.

Zahrain urged Lim who often touted himself as the CM for all races to prove that he is not a Chinese chauvinist.

"I urge Lim to state his stand and the DAP's on Anwar's rude remarks in AWSJ which clearly supports the Zionists," he said.

Meanwhile, Zahrain said Pakatan Rakyat leaders appeared to be playing at theaterics when the issue cropped up earlier this month and several Muslim leaders had whacked Anwar for it.

He added that Anwar's statement saying he supports the security of Israel meant he backed the "cruel oppression" of the Palestinians, raising many questions among Malaysians.

Malaysians, especially the Muslims, were very upset with the Permatang Pauh MP's remarks supporting the Zionists, he stressed.

Zahrain said Anwar's latest remarks have exposed the latter as a two-faced leader but what was more worrying was the lack of response from Pakatan leaders, who continue to "twist and confuse" the people.

He accused PKR leaders of giving PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat a slap on his face and indirectly silenced the voices of other PAS ulamas as well.

Nik Aziz had asked Anwar to clarify his statement "openly" before asking him earlier to retract or explain the report, or sue the publication.