KUCHING, Aug 26: Sarawak DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) is disappointed with the U-turn made by Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on controversial religious speaker Dr Zakir Naik.
DAPSY Sarawak Publicity Secretary Abdul Aziz Isa in a statement today said he was utterly disappointed and gobsmacked with Saddiq’s call to Malaysians to forgive Zakir and ‘move on’.
Quoting Zakir’s remark on Aug 8 at Kota Baru that “the Chinese who were the older guests should go back first”, Abdul Aziz said the statement drew brickbats from majority of Malaysians including the moderate Malays, Chinese, Indians, native Sabahans and native Sarawakians.
“Soon after that, on Aug 14, 2019, Saddiq quickly came out with a ‘heroic’ statement to support his fellow ministers Gobind Singh Deo, M Kulasegaran and Dr Xavier Jayakumar’s call in the cabinet to deport the controversial Indian preacher for making racially and religiously sensitive comments,” said Aziz.
He quoted Saddiq who had said – “An attack against our Chinese and Indian brothers and sisters is an attack against all Malaysians” where the latter also acknowledged that there were many Chinese and Indians who were willing to die for Malaysia.
Abdul Aziz further pointed out that Saddiq even commented that – “It is ridiculous to even think that my fellow Malaysians are my guests. They are my family for god’s sake. Enough is enough”.
“Unfortunately, his ‘heroic’ statement became ‘anti-climax’ as it did not last long. In just ten days, the so-called promising millennium leader appears to bury the hatchet with the controversial Indian preacher by hosting a dinner at his house in Petaling Jaya.
“What’s worse, without shame, he posted on his Instagram with the caption ‘There’s no need to beat on our chests and muddy the waters anymore. There’s no need to insult and disparage. Let’s move on, the country needs healing’. Move on? Give me a break,” said Aziz.
He acknowledged some of Pakatan Harapan’s politicians have made many ‘U-turns’ in their political careers due to certain reasons but in the case of Saddiq and Zakir Naik, Aziz said this was the ugliest ‘U-turn’ in the Malaysian political history.
He said such an ugly ‘U-turn’ was unbecoming judging from Saddiq’s status as a Federal Cabinet Minister.
“What is the message that he is trying to send to the public? Don’t tell me that this Saddiq is suffering from a selective dementia at an early stage. If so, then, he is mentally unfit to remain in his ‘lucrative’ position,” said Aziz.
He said making a U-turn at an early age just went to show that Saddiq lacks of principles and moral integrity.
Instead of siding the majority of Malaysians, Aziz claimed that Saddiq chose to end his support by siding with the controversial Indian preacher for his political mileage.
Judging from Saddiq’s flip-flop statements, Aziz said Saddiq has not only failed to bring the voice of progressiveness and moderation but would cause the youth to feel disgusted and fed-up with political leaders.
“To bring Malaysia forward, we need a progressive and moderate young leader. We don’t need a youth leader who is ultraconservative who belongs to the past. Or else, we will never see changes in our lifetime,” he said. — DayakDaily
