`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Friday, July 11, 2014

Culprit is Utusan if DPM's words manipulated


Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's claim his racial riot comment last weekend had been "manipulated" would implicate none other than his party-owned daily Utusan Malaysia, said DAP.

"If Muhyiddin's Pagoh speech had been 'manipulated', then the culprit is none other than Utusan Malaysia, the mouthpiece of Umno," said Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang in a statement today.

"This is because it was Utusan Malaysia which reportedMuhyiddin's warning of another May 13 riots in the context of worsening ethnic relations allegedly because Malays and Islam were under siege (clearly implying that this was because of the attacks by non-Malays and non-Muslims)…"

Lim (left) pointed out the daily quoted the DPM worrying over messages to the latter about the fate of the Malays and "Islam being insulted and other similar issues".

"It is very clear from the Utusan Malaysia report (and nobody doubts Utusan on this matter as it is the mouthpiece of Umno) that Muhyiddin was singling out non-Malays and non-Muslims when he referred to the recurrence of May 13, alleging that the Malays and Islam were under relentless attack, a threat which had in fact been repeated a few times since the 13th general elections in May last year by other irresponsible extremist groups and individuals," he said.

While Muhyiddin in the said report was coy to refer directly to the infamous May 13, 1969 riots, calling it "that event - I do not want to mention the date", the headline of the story made it crystal clear.

The DPM has yesterday claimed that his words had been "manipulated".

"There are certain people in Malaysia who do not understand what I say...(they) manipulate and in fact turn whatever I say into a political statement,"Bernama reported Muhyiddin (left) saying in Kedah.

Lim said the clarification "must taken with a big pinch of salt".

"I have many questions to ask Muhyiddin, including why he had not immediately issued such a clarification instead of allowing six days to elapse before doing so – which would have ended the unfortunate furore over his May 13 remark," the DAP veteran said.

'Muhyiddin serious about harmony?'
 

The spectre of May 13, the riots that erupted between Chinese and Malays in 1969 after the opposition made unprecedented wins at that year's general election, has been a useful tool over the ensuing decades to strike fear in the Chinese community to toe the line.

While the Utusan report caused consternation in the public sphere, BN leaders in particular Chinese-based ones were slammed for being quick to defend Muhyiddin.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said it was "shocking" for MCA president Liow Tiong Lai and Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong to try to "whitewash Muhyiddin’s threats by callously and casually dismissing it as merely a reminder".

"By implication, Muhyiddin is first dehumanising non-Muslims and non-Malays because Muslims and Malays continue to be insulted, as well as absolving BN from blame if there is to be death and violence in any future May 13 riots.

"Such inflammatory remarks by a deputy prime minister is not only irresponsible but has only encouraged and empowered racist, extremist and right-wing hate groups like Perkasa and Isma," said Guan Eng in a statement this week.

Meanwhile, Kit Siang said he would be the first to applaud Muhyiddin if the latter, notorious for his claim to be "Malay first", was serious in promoting harmony among the races.

"The country should move on. Let all Malaysians learn from the furore of the last week to be careful and not to be careless with our public statements and avoid insensitive and provocative expressions, which undermine racial and religious understanding, harmony and peace," he said.

He also called for a national reconciliation roundtable between BN and Pakatan Rakyat to " check racial and religious polarisation and to reach a national consensus to end all May 13 threats".

"Will Muhyiddin support this proposal…?" asked Kit Siang.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.