BUKIT MERTAJAM – A Penang PKR lawmaker has requested that DAP be tactful when hurling criticism at its Pakatan Harapan allies because it can be misconstrued as attacks against a particular community in terms of polemic racial and religious issues.
Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin said DAP should walk the talk instead of just preaching about equality.
“It doesn’t help that during legislative debates, it attacks at every opportunity Malay and Islamic parties who are not their opponents in elections.
“It is because these parties only contest in Malay-majority areas, whereas DAP contests in non-Malay constituencies. DAP is comfortable in such seats.
“(There is) no need to do that all the time because it keeps perpetuating the same tiring attacks.
“These are religious-based and race-based parties, so their issues are going to be related to their party’s respective mandates.
DAP’s incessant attacks towards me in the last state assembly sitting didn’t win over our Malay and Muslim supporters, either.
“I mean, it goes both ways.
“If we really want to end race-based politics, then we must lessen the rhetoric against Malays and Muslims.
“How can we win support from the people we are attacking?” she asked.
The state PKR committee member added that her party was formed to bear the burden of racial and religious politics because the multi-ethnic party contests in mixed-voter composition seats.
PKR, she said, is often pitted against many right-wing parties during elections.
In response, DAP’s Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid said there might be some misconceptions about DAP’s intentions, which is just to highlight poor governance.
Identity politics are difficult to break, bigotry is so deeply embedded in our society, and of course, the situation is made worse when leaders or political organisations continue to focus on our differences.
“The concept of living as Malaysians will be achieved, but it requires generational changes and individuals who are brave enough to step up and speak up against racism.
“Race and religion have often been used as convenient excuses – to hide incompetence and ignorance.
“Malaysians are far too used to living in a system that hammers down blind obedience and fearmongering,” she said when contacted.
DAP, she said, has always been a convenient scapegoat, like every other political organisation and even groups within communities and NGOs.
“You will always have minorities who may have differing views. People tend to focus on the negative. After all, war sells and peace doesn’t.”
“The media also plays an important role in spreading a different narrative, one that isn’t tainted with sensationalised racial rhetoric.
“Let’s focus on the positive voices, give us a platform to spread social reforms and start much needed discourse on diversity. We need to drown out the voices that spew hate and mistrust,” she added. – The Vibes, December 23, 2021
