'Don't bash Karpal over legitimate concerns'

Inter-faith and interracial ties in Malaysia are degenerating with the ethnic majority displaying diminishing tolerance towards the minorities’ freedom to religion and culture, said an opposition leader.

Against this backdrop, Dr Boo Cheng Hau claimed that DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh's concerns about the future were warranted and therefore the latter should not be condemned for his views.

The Johor DAP chief was responding to Karpal's call for the de-registration of race and religion-based parties, which ruffled the feathers of his allies in PAS.

"Even though the de-registration of race-based and religion-based parties is an idealism, I believe Karpal's worry of ever deteriorating inter-faith and interracial relations in Malaysia is warranted...

"Despite our differences in creeds, beliefs and cultures, Malaysians cannot segregate ourselves socially from one and another's religion, culture and beliefs.

"Not only that we should respect and accept each other's needs but should have more non-racial, non-religious, all Malaysian-oriented organisations than race-based organisations in all areas," he added in a media statement.

PAS' supporters wing 'long way' to intergration

Boo said PAS had made commendable efforts in approaching the non-Muslim communities by setting up its non-Muslim PAS supporters wing.

Nonetheless, he noted, it was still a long way to genuine integration if political parties, professional bodies and businesses organisations are still based on race and religion lines.

"It is regrettable to notice that certain quarters within PAS have been regurgitating Umno's nationalist rhetoric than trying to put up a better alternative racial integration plan for the country.

"Instead of bashing Karpal and DAP, I welcome all Malaysians including certain quarters within PAS, to explore more on racial integration and concentrate more on formulating alternative policies replacing Umno-BN’s racial formulas," he said.

PAS’ theocratic aims had always been a thorn in its relationship with DAP, which is vehemently opposed to the setting up of an Islamic state.

This often leads Pakatan Rakyat's rivals to dismiss the opposition bloc as a mere marriage of convenience between parties with diametrically-opposed ideologies.