KUCHING: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Kuching has described the actions of Sungai Besar Umno division chief and Malay group Red Shirts’ leader Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos in smashing crates of beer in front of the Selangor state government office as thuggish, barbaric, vindictive, and malicious.
“In a country where multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural existed for more than 50 years, shouldn’t we all by now be in existence with acceptance of how others live and not impose our beliefs on other people who are different from us?” asked DAP Kuching branch publicity secretary Bernard Chin in a statement today.
He said Jamal is the ‘best example’ of extremism rearing its ugly head while the rest of Barisan Nasional has played the part of enablers for this to go on by remaining silent.
“The dead silence from BN (Barisan Nasional) component parties especially BN Sarawak, is screaming to all that they are morally impaired and muted by their self-interest,” he added.
Chin said Jamal’s antics is more than just about beer or liquor as it speaks volumes of how BN has failed to protect the people, their rights and their freedom as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
He also said that BN’s attempts to distance itself from Jamal, claiming he acted in his own capacity as the leader of an NGO, was just part of a ‘sandiwara’ (show) and that his antics was aimed at distracting the public from the real issues plaguing this country, hardships from higher cost of living due to GST, the falling ringgit, the 1MDB scandals and the seemingless never-ending corruption and wastages.
“More than 50 years under BN rule and this is what they are best at. UMNO, the BN Big Brother, as usual using the repulsive political gimmick; race card or religious card, played to see how to best divide the people in this country.
Chin also took shots at Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), saying their justification would be saying that it has nothing to do with Sarawak because Sarawak is different from West Malaysia or that Jamal has been jailed so he got what he deserves.
Chin also pointed out that this was not the first incidence of race and religion being used to bully minorities in Malaysia. He highlighted PERKASA, which also has been linked to BN, which threatened the minorities in this country to stop making “nonsensical” demands when they had requested for UEC to be recognised by the government.
Chin also highlighted UMNO information chief Annuar Musa who recently said UMNO is ready to work with PAS to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, or RUU355, which critics see as a backdoor to implementing the shariah penal code.
He questioned BN Sarawak and SUPP as to what is their response to this.
“All these will not be the first and last ‘sandiwara’ from BN, more to come leading up to the general election which we will see soon. Time and again, BN Sarawak has shown to Sarawakians that they aren’t able to stand up against UMNO, their Big Brother.
“The best that they can do is shout loudly here at home saying they protect our interests and yet at crucial times such as these they have remained mum. If they cannot protect Sarawakians then we, at Pakatan Harapan Sarawak, will prove otherwise.”
