'Bald' rebuttal: DAP MP counters Ong's 'Harapan benefitted from racial politics' claim

The internal sparring within DAP has descended to a follicular dimension, with Kampar MP Chong Zhemin taking a pointed jab at Ong Kian Ming by weaving an analogy around the former deputy minister’s polished crown.

This came after Ong, a former DAP lawmaker, argued that Pakatan Harapan had also benefited from racial politics, which Chong contested as drawing a false equivalence between “Harapan’s Malaysian campaign and the openly race-based mobilisation employed by BN and Perikatan Nasional”.

“Saying Harapan benefited from racial politics is like saying baldness is a hairstyle. It confuses a political outcome with a deliberate political strategy,” he added in a statement.

Chong (above, right) insisted that Harapan, which attributed its defeat in last Saturday’s Negeri Sembilan state election to the opposition’s exploitation of identity politics, had never campaigned by urging one ethnic group to unite against another.

“We have never told Chinese voters that their interests can only be protected by defeating the Malays, nor have we told Indian voters that another community poses a threat to them.

“Harapan’s central message has always been that Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, must unite to defend good governance, moderation, economic justice and democratic institutions,” he added.

Chong argued that strong support from a particular community does not automatically make a party’s campaign racial.

“What matters is how that support was obtained and what messages were used to mobilise voters,” he added.

Political punching bag

In contrast, Chong said, BN and PN repeatedly used DAP as a target, a threat and a political punching bag to frighten Malay voters.

He added that DAP was blamed for issue after issue, while Malay voters were urged to consolidate their political power to protect their rights and interests from an implied enemy.

“There is a fundamental difference between calling on Malaysians to reject extremism and telling members of a particular race that they must consolidate their political power to protect themselves from other communities.

“Warning voters about religious extremism or policies that may undermine Malaysia’s multicultural character is not the same as mobilising voters solely on the basis of racial solidarity.

“One is a debate about the direction and values of the country. The other defines political competition primarily through racial identity,” he added.

Chong said Harapan contests elections under a common multiracial platform and its candidates appeal to Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli, Sabah and Sarawak voters as Malaysians.

“Our policies on wages, healthcare, education, housing, public transport and institutional reform are intended to benefit all communities.

“It is therefore inaccurate to claim that the two approaches carry the same underlying message.

“Harapan does not seek Chinese unity, Indian unity or Malay unity against anyone. We seek Malaysian unity around a government that is competent, fair and accountable,” he added.

The Kampar MP said the lesson from Negeri Sembilan should not be that Harapan must imitate BN and PN by becoming more racial, but strive to make its Malaysian message clearer, stronger and more relevant.

“Malaysia will not move forward by dividing its citizens into competing racial blocs. The future lies in persuading Malaysians that their interests are better protected when every community advances together,” he added.

Shifting narrative

Speaking on the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast hosted by former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, Ong said Harapan previously appealed to non-Malay voters to unite similar to BN and PN.

“It works both ways. In the past, Harapan may also have benefited, albeit indirectly, from calls for non-Malay voters to unite to gain greater political power.

“But now, with the consolidation of the Malay parties and Malay voters behind BN and PN, that narrative has begun to shift somewhat,” the former Bangi MP was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.

Agreeing with Ong, Khairy said Harapan had previously used “coded references” to the “Green Wave” to rally Chinese voters behind the coalition.

“The message was similar to what BN and PN candidates are now saying about Malay unity to safeguard Malay interests.

“Of course, in both cases, nobody explicitly said it was at the expense of others. That was never stated. And to be fair, Harapan never said that either. But the underlying message was the same,” he added.

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