Islamists, Reds scare a pre-polls boost for BN, says DAP

Lim highlighted BN’s efforts to kindle ties to China’s communists even as the Special Branch attempts to raise the spectre of communism. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 ― Lim Guan Eng accused the police Special Branch unit today of spreading the fear of terrorism and communism among voters to help Barisan Nasional (BN) triumph in the coming polls.

The DAP secretary-general denied his party has any links to communist elements, pointing out instead that it was Umno’s leaders who have fostered close ties with the Communist Party of China

“This is an electoral ploy and part of the political agenda of the Special Branch to frighten Malay voters to support Umno and BN.

“This is a shameful act of political opportunism by Special Branch to make a baseless attack on DAP without needing to show proof,” Lim said in a statement here.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, was responding to Thursday’s claim by Special Branch chief assistant director of the E2(M) national social extremist threat division Mohd Sofian Md Makinuddin that communist elements were trying to penetrate the DAP while Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorists were infiltrating PAS.

“The question here is, does Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein dare to direct the Special Branch to prove to the public how communists are infiltrating the DAP?” Lim asked.

He added that if Hishammuddin failed to do so, this would prove that the Special Branch has political motivations and worked under the influence of the ruling Umno.

The Special Branch is a special intelligence unit in the police force tasked with collating information to protect Malaysia from perceived threats of subversion.

Lim also questioned why the Special Branch was insisting on continuing to “fight” communism when it was former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Rahim Nor and not Pakatan Rakyat (PR) who had signed a peace agreement with the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) on December 2, 1989.

“If the Special Branch is so intent on fighting communists, then they should be fully ashamed for failing to perform their duty by acting against Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin,” he said.

Lim said that were communism an actual threat to Malaysia, Khairy should be arrested and charged for allegedly trying to revive the ideology by setting up a permanent secretariat on October 12, 2009, to strengthen ties between BN Youth and the Communist Youth League (CYL) of China.

Khairy had previously said the permanent secretariat would facilitate continuous bilateral programmes to promote a stronger bond between the two entities.

“Sofian and other top Special Branch officers should resign their posts for failing to arrest Khairy for forging a direct relationship with the CYL but instead they are trying to find communist shadows in the DAP when there are none.

“This latest smear campaign by Special Branch against the DAP shows that Umno is in denial of its own communist links,” he said.

He added that whatever tactics employed by BN and Umno, the public was no longer willing to be deceived.

“The people yearn to live in the light with human dignity, integrity, freedom of information, truth, justice and democracy,” he added.

Hishammuddin previously claimed he has no knowledge of communist ideology or JI elements infiltrating any political parties in Malaysia.

However, he said that the police will continue to monitor and investigate in case those allegations were true.