Lim tells why DAP, Harapan are being 'hated'

DAP and Pakatan Harapan are being hated because they practised moderation seeking to represent all Malaysians, not one community or one religion, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

In light of the current situation, Lim urged Malaysians to stand together against those who wish to destroy Harapan and DAP, and the country’s racial and religious harmony.

"We counter the hate and threats from our opponents with compassion and good governance," said the Finance Minister.

He cited an example where despite PAS’ vilification of DAP leaders, he approved funds when the Kelantan government sought financial aid from the federal government twice.

This was to help pay the salaries of the civil servants.

"They were unpaid due to their (Kelantan) economic incompetence, but I immediately approved a loan amounting to RM192 million so that civil servants in Kelantan will continue to collect their salary," said the former Penang chief minister.

"We counter our political opponents not by being more racist or more extremist," he added during his speech at the Penang state DAP convention in Prai today.

"We will not lie shamelessly like our opponents".

When saying this, Lim pointed to Opposition Leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who claimed that the halal certification has been transferred and is now decided by the Finance Ministry and Lim, who is the minister.

He also ticked off Bukit Gelugor Umno division chief Omar Faudzar, saying the man lied that DAP is registering phantom voters from citizens in China and India.

"He said these without showing any proof. He also said that I am destroying the Malay community’s economic strength and financial livelihood by selling off government-linked companies (GLC)," Lim said.

"Omar (below) and Umno leaders know very well that I have not approved the sale of government assets and that GLCs are under Khazanah Nasional Bhd, which is chaired by the Prime Minister and I am not even a director of Khazanah," he added.

Lim said police reports have been lodged by DAP leaders against such "desperate lies".

He urged the authorities to act to stop those inciting hatred among the different ethnic groups in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Lim warned that Umno and PAS leaders have targeted non-Malays and non-Muslims in order to regain power.

He said the "racists and religious extremists" lost power in the national polls last year through corruption and economic mismanagement.

However, by using a "dangerous, divisive and destructive formula", Umno and PAS have opposed funding for vernacular schools with some even calling for it to be closed down, Lim claimed.

"They have also called for the boycott of non-Muslim products and businesses, bar non-Muslims from becoming Cabinet Ministers; dispossess Indians and Chinese the right to vote, show outright contempt for the religious practices of non-Muslims and spread vicious lies against non-Muslims that is justifiable just because of their religion," Lim decried.

The Bagan MP said the authorities must also understand the unhappiness of the non-Malays or non-Muslims for being unfairly targeted.

He said the recent singing of Negaraku by primary school students in Mandarin raises questions why a full police investigation is necessary but not when Negaraku is sung in Arabic.

Students were only following the textbooks issued in 2014 and used in 2015, Lim said.

"DAP agrees that Negaraku should only be sung in Bahasa Malaysia.

"Since students were given the translated text in Arabic or Mandarin, then a reminder that Negaraku is sung only in Bahasa Malaysia and not other languages is sufficient," added the Air Putih assemblyperson.

"There is no need to warrant a full police investigation.

"Just leave our kids alone and keep politics out of schools," Lim stressed.

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