PAS playing victim after own leader's racist post: DAP

Summary

• DAP’s Syahredzan slams PAS for deflecting from its leader’s racist remarks by accusing DAP of stoking racial sentiments.

• The Bangi MP says PAS fails to recognise non-Malays’ contributions, after Zuhdi Marsuki’s defence of Zaharudin Muhammad’s controversial post on Johnny Lim’s promotion from major general to lieutenant general.

• He urges PAS to abandon divisive politics and respect the Federal Constitution’s guarantees for all Malaysians.

DAP has hit back at PAS after the latter accused the government party of stoking racial sentiments over the promotion of a non-Malay to lieutenant general in the armed forces.

Turning the tables on PAS by claiming the Islamist party holds no regard for non-Malays’ contributions to the nation, DAP vice-chairperson Syahredzan Johan took aim at allegations by PAS supreme council member Zuhdi Marsuki yesterday.

Amid ongoing controversy over Sungai Buloh PAS division chief Zaharudin Muhammad’s remarks appearing to disparage the promotion of Johnny Lim, Malaysia’s first Chinese lieutenant general, Zuhdi had questioned if DAP is looking to have a non-Muslim lead the armed forces in the future.

In response, Syahredzan asserted that Zuhdi’s “baseless claim” was a clear attempt to cover up the misstep by Zaharudin, who is also PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s son-in-law.

“The core issue here is that a PAS leader brought race-based polemics into what was meant to be an honour given to a Chinese Malaysian lieutenant general in the armed forces,” Syahredzan said in a statement today.

“When Zuhdi downplays Zaharudin’s wrongdoing, it exposes PAS’ true face - that they do not value the service and sacrifices of non-Malays in this country.”

He also reminded PAS that non-Malays, alongside the Malays, have shed blood, sweat, and tears for the country.

“The rights and position of non-Malays are enshrined in the Federal Constitution, and PAS has no right to question this.

“Enough with divisive and hateful politics. Leave behind this outdated political mindset and accept the reality that Malaysia is our shared homeland,” Syahredzan urged.

Fictional tale

In a Facebook post, Zaharudin had previously written of a hypothetical scenario where a Chinese individual from Kampung Sungai Baru - despite it being a Malay enclave - would be appointed prime minister in 2058.

He also attached a screenshot of an article on Lim’s promotion, but claimed the image was just “decorative”.

The post courted brickbats from several quarters, including DAP leaders Lim Guan Eng and Steven Sim, prompting Zaharuddin to initially delete the post.

However, the PAS man later re-uploaded his comments, insisting that he had not deleted the original post out of fear, but to “wipe out the cyber troopers” supposedly working to distort the truth.

He had also threatened legal action against Sim, who is the human resources minister, and a social news site for allegedly twisting his remarks.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan has since attempted to distance the party from the post, adding that action would be taken against those who breach party discipline.

A number of police reports have also been filed against Zaharudin, including one by Klang PKR Youth chief Shahrul Adnan, who urged authorities to investigate the PAS figure for sedition.

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