KUALA LUMPUR – Former Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau has hit out at his party’s secretary-general Lim Guan Eng after he was lambasted by the latter for criticising Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh’s decision to wear a headscarf during her recent visit to a mosque.
In a Facebook statement, he stressed that gimmicks will not net long-term returns when it comes to political mileage.
He added that “over-appeasing” any ethnic group will not have much long-term political impact.
“PH’s (Pakatan Harapan) losses at the Tg Piai by-election and Melaka elections are already alarming signs to DAP and PH.
“Your question on commenting on women’s dressings (sic) is also irrelevant. The precise point is that we should not use dressing as a political mileage,” said Dr Boo.
If Liew Chin Tong dresses like an ulama to go to a mosque to canvass votes, I would think that may be perceived to gain political influence and may not bring about any positive result to DAP.”
In his attack against Lim, the DAP conservative had also recalled the anger of the Chinese community over the former finance minister’s refusal to allocate funds for Tunku Abdul Rahman University, and accused Lim of placing partisanship above education while being a yes-man to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The tussle between the two began in response to Yeoh’s recent visit to a mosque, where she had worn a headscarf out of respect for Islamic modesty.
In Islam, men and women must cover their respective aurat (areas of modesty) and should not wear anything revealing – particularly in a mosque or surau.
The Muslim faith considers the head and hair of a woman as aurat and it must be covered, especially in a house of worship. Yeoh had merely respected the congregation and its religious mores during her visit.
Dr Boo, who held the Skudai seat before he was dropped by the party in 2018, had allegedly slammed Yeoh’s attire in a private DAP leadership WhatsApp group.
Maybe all of our women reps should wear the hijab not only in mosques but all over in public markets, churches, schools, and so on.
“Best still, all should convert to Islam. Then we will be ensured to win Putrajaya in the next general election. What say you, smart dudes?” Dr Boo had reportedly said, according to a MalaysiaKini article.
In his latest statement tonight, the former lawmaker had also made comparisons over his service to the community, when he and Johor DAP had donated their own money to Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools but also to Muslim religious schools, and Yeoh’s actions.
“I went only with a sincere heart to help each community, especially their social and education needs,” said Dr Boo.
He said that he did not wear any religious headdress or outfits to appease anyone.
However, unlike women who must be practically covered from head to toe, a man’s aurat in Islam is only between his navel and his knees – there is no religious observation to wear anything beyond that, barring cultural and religious norms, to the house of worship.
Over the last decade, there has been a tussle between the leadership-backed progressives in the party, who aim to make DAP more inclusive and accepting of other ethnicities, against the pushback by some grassroots “regressives” and conservatives who want to maintain its Chinese-centric status quo.
In response to Dr Boo’s original diatribe, Yeoh said she will not apologise for wearing a selendang (headscarf) in a mosque, stressing that it is the right thing to do for her Muslim brothers and sisters.
She added that diversity and respect is Malaysia’s greatest strength and that one should live in moderation, committing herself to her vision of the country.
“Wearing a selendang when I visit a mosque doesn’t change my race or my faith. Love your neighbour as you love yourself. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Amen,” Yeoh tweeted.
Wearing a selendang when I visit a mosque doesn't change my race or my faith. Love your neighbour as you love yourself. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Amen.
— Hannah Yeoh (@hannahyeoh) December 4, 2021
She had received backing from DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who blasted Dr Boo, saying that his remarks were no better than that of PAS, known for its extremists and backward remarks.
The national-level DAP leader pointed out in a statement that wearing a headscarf to a mosque is similar to how all visitors must cover their heads when visiting a Sikh gurdwara.
“I find Boo’s remarks no different to those made before by extremist and primitive PAS leaders, who want to control what women can or cannot wear.
“His actions are not only gender-insensitive, but also runs the risk of portraying DAP leaders as being just as intolerant and regressive as extremist PAS leaders.
“Unfortunately, such unjustifiable criticism by one state leader has cast a bad light on the entirety of DAP,” Lim said. – The Vibes, December 4, 2021
