Ramasamy: DAP will become redundant if PN is able to address worrying concerns of non-Muslims

 

I THINK Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai is right in asking Perikatan Nasional (PN) to address the concerns of the non-Malays or non-Muslims concerning their fundamental rights in the country.

Unless and until the opposition leadership addresses the worrying concerns of the non-Muslims, the opposition coalition might not pose a credible national alternative to the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led coalition in the coming federal and state elections.

It does not take rocket science to realise that worrying concerns of the non-Malays have been fully capitalised by the PH led coalition not only to stay in power but prolong its stay.

Without the PAS political addiction to the idea of an Islamic state that continually keeps fuelling the relevance of political parties such as DAP, the latter might lose its political relevance.

Source: Free Malaysia Today

The only thing that keeps the DAP going is the fear injected in the minds of the non-Muslims as to what will happen if the opposition comes to power.

Without this political combustible narrative, DAP might lose its political relevance in the country.  The heyday of DAP is over and the only thing that keeps the party going is its narrative of PAS being the enemy of the non-Muslims.

It is not that the PH-led coalition is a great friend of the non-Muslims over the last two years or so judging from the surreptitious introduction of Islamic elements in the administration of the country.

Can PN capitalise?

The Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024 that might come up in the Dewan Rakyat for the second and third reading represents how the present government wants to introduce an Islamic law that might spell trouble for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Muslims in general desire a law that recognises the idea of plurality in Islam rather than the doctrinaire version in the present draft bill. Moreover, the Mufti (FT) Bill might have indirect implications to the non-Muslims as well.

The PN leadership and PAS in particular must do some real thinking as to how to address the present lacuna in their relationship with the non-Muslims in the country.

The PN leadership might be vociferous in their ethnic and religious rhetoric but the present Madani government appears more devious when it comes to race and religion.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim remains entrapped in the ethnic and religious hegemony of the Malays.

It is not that he is captive of the political circumstances but rather obsession with power and the vaulting ambition to stay in power has found a convenient route in race and religion.

In this respect, the PN while standing for the ethnic and religious rights of the Malays are in better standing to woo the support of the non-Malays.

Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy

It is not that the non-Malays might not vote for them but then the political overture must come from them.

I think the Indians are slowly warming up to the PN leadership although the Chinese are still reluctant.

Well, if the PN leadership is only interested in garnering Malay support, they can forget about capturing national political power. At best, they can only win a few states.

This is a critical moment in the history of the country whereby the ball is at the feet of the PN leadership. The question is in what direction the coalition is going to kick the ball. The opposition coalition should make sure it does not score an own goal.

It serves no purpose to have nationalist political ambitions without factoring the interests of non-Muslims.

Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.