Good and bad commies: 'So why arrest PSM members?'

Prime Minister Najib Razak's remark that the present communists were "different from the past” got a sarcastic response from PAS's outspoken information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who questioned why Parti Sosialis Malaysia members were recently detained over accusations of reviving communism.

“If present communism is different from old communism, then did they arrest (PSM members) under Emergency Ordinance?

"So it seems that if UMNO has ties with communists, then they become good communists. If others, then they are bad communists", quipped Tuan Ibrahim in a statement.

Najib was earlier reacting to criticisms over UMNO's memorandum of understanding with the Communist Party of China (CPC) last year, while at the same time the government media had indulged in labelling PAS's Mohamad Sabu as communists for questioning the country's British-friendly historical texts.

“The present communism is different from the past. Previously, they wanted to control the country and spread the ideology which did not give the people their rights. We are friendly with communist countries now because they have discarded their old ideology,” Bernama quoted Najib as saying.

Last June, six PSM activists, including Sungai Siput member of parliament Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, were among 30 PSM members detained for distributing leaflets in support of electoral reforms coalition Bersih's July 9 rally.

The police had then said they were trying to rekindle the communist ideology and accused them of "waging war against the Agong". Jeyakumar and five others were later detained without trial under the draconian Emergency Ordinance, only to be released on July 29.Tuan Ibrahim said that by Najib's logic, present communism should no longer be viewed as dangerous and therefore could not pose a security threat. As such, he said any Malaysian could now embrace the communist ideology.

In jest, Tuan Ibrahim asked whether this was the reason why Najib had established family ties with leaders of Kazakhstan, a country steeped in the communist ideology.

“So, if anyone wants to have MoU with any communist party, ask UMNO first. Because only UMNO can tells who are the good and bad communists," added Tuan Ibrahim.

'Good and bad Malays'

He further poked fun at former strongman Dr Mahathir Mohamad and pro-UMNO historian Dr Zainal Kling over their suggestion that the country had never been colonised.

“(Only they) can decide with certainty who is 'technically' being colonised, and who is 'protectorate'. Being colonised physically, where natural resources were robbed, is not legit technically, so whoever gives such an answer in the history exam must be given zero mark,” he said.

And what about the 'good' and 'bad' Malays? According to Tuan Ibrahim, "one also has to ask UMNO first. UMNO’s bomoh will use its holy water and announce to the world whether this Malay is dangerous or not.

"If the Malay is greenish, then he is bad and a threat to UMNO. If blue, then he is a good Malay, and will be granted special position," he said, referring to the PAS and Barisan Nasional colours.

- Harakahdaily