DAP stirring pot of racial disharmony, Sanusi claims

Summary

• PAS leader pins the blame on DAP for inciting racial tensions, says Pakatan Harapan party should be wiped out from the political scene.

• Sanusi urges Ayer Kuning voters to support PN as part of a larger agenda to eliminate racial discord.

AYER KUNING POLLS | Perikatan Nasional has accused DAP of fanning the flames of racial tensions in the nation, claiming that the country can only be saved if the party is removed from the local political scene.

Asserting that PN component members should not be blamed for recent incidents said to touch on Malay-Muslim sensitivities, the coalition's elections director, Sanusi Nor, instead pointed the finger at DAP.

"Those who are stirring up racial sentiments in this nation are not (from) PN, PAS or Bersatu, but DAP," Sanusi (above) told attendees of a PN ceramah in Bidor last night for the Ayer Kuning by-election.

"BN's candidate (for the by-election) sits with DAP - a dangerous, chauvinistic party.

"Even though they (DAP) present themselves in a soft-spoken manner with a gentle tongue, believe me, history has shown that since DAP's establishment, our country has become more and more heated with racial issues," added the Kedah menteri besar.

Sanusi also claimed that while DAP might present a friendly facade, the Pakatan Harapan component party could potentially harbour divisive intentions.

"In front of us, they (DAP) couldn't even kill an ant, but they're different when they're behind us. They'll speak in Mandarin and Cantonese - we won't understand," he said.

DAP ‘mistakes’

In countering accusations of racism, Sanusi highlighted his Chinese ancestry and personal relationships with individuals of other races, insisting that PN is not racist as it is simply "speaking frankly".

Earlier in his speech, Sanusi linked "a party formed in 1963" to several controversial gaffes involving the national flag, asserting that while the incidents might appear to be "mistakes", PN suspects them of being intentionally orchestrated.

"After (the party) gained 40 parliamentary seats, racial tensions ignited again (along with) the courage to remove the crescent, symbolising Islam in the nation, from the Jalur Gemilang," he said.

"This kind of incident has never happened, and it is only happening now when the party established in 1963 has power in the country.

"Repeated mistakes might seem accidental, but our feelings tell us that these are deliberate acts," he added.

Formed in 1965 and formally registered the following year, DAP holds 40 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, making it the Harapan party member with the most representatives in Parliament.

‘Reject BN’

Calling on Ayer Kuning voters to indicate their dissatisfaction with the unity government by casting their ballots for PN's candidate, Sanusi said voters should reject BN to kickstart the end of DAP's political legacy in the nation.

Yesterday, PN deputy chairperson Hamzah Zainudin expressed confidence that the coalition will be able to pull votes from Umno loyalists displeased with DAP.

Claiming that voters would prefer Umno to join forces with PN instead, the Bersatu deputy president said plenty of voters have conveyed their rejection of "UmDAP."

The phrase is a pejorative term used against Umno by its critics after the BN linchpin joined forces with DAP to form the unity government after the 2022 general election.

Ayer Kuning voters will head to the polls tomorrow after a two-week campaign.

PN fields Tapah PN chief Abd Muhaimin Malek, while BN has opted to put forth Tapah Umno secretary Yusri Bakir.

PSM deputy secretary-general Bawani KS makes up the three-cornered race for the state seat, which was declared vacant following the death of its incumbent Umno assemblyperson, Ishsam Shahruddin, on Feb 22.

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