Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today described Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's declaration that Chinese voters who choose DAP are “ingrates” as the same logic Adolf Hitler used to justify his actions against the Jews.
Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said it was wrong of Zahid to stereotype a community as wealthy when there were also poor Chinese.
“How can the Chinese be abandoning the Malays and the Indians by voting for the DAP? I do not know what logic Zahid is applying, except to say that this is the same logic used by Hitler to justify his pogroms against the Jews.
“In a democracy, every citizen has a right to freely choose, without fear or favour, without being subjected to threats or tempted by money and gifts. What is the point of holding democratic elections if a voter can be branded as ungrateful for exercising his freedom of choice?” Lim asked.
Such inflammatory remarks by Zahid, Lim said, were clearly intended to create racial hatred and strike fear into the hearts of the Teluk Intan Chinese community and to force them to vote for BN.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the DAP secretary-general added, should prove his consistency by immediately disavowing Zahid's racist remark.
Yesterday, Zahid said Chinese voters, especially those with successful businesses, who choose DAP are "ingrates" as they areabandoning Malays and Indians who contributed to their wealth.
"I will be sad if the people of Teluk Intan choose DAP again. The Malays will be sad, and Indians even sadder. It is fine for the Chinese as they are traders, but what will happen if the Malays and Indians do not support the Chinese traders by not buying their goods? They can't survive either,” the home minister said.
Lim also criticised the Election Commission (EC) for not condemning incidents of vote-buying, as had been reported, even though the EC has no enforcement power.
“EC's inaction has resulted in BN leaders behaving like feudal overlords spreading largesse only during by-elections. The EC’s role as an apologist for the BN only reinforces Pakatan Rakyat's demands that the EC members resign because of their utter failure to uphold the law without fear or favour,” he added.
Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said it was wrong of Zahid to stereotype a community as wealthy when there were also poor Chinese.
“How can the Chinese be abandoning the Malays and the Indians by voting for the DAP? I do not know what logic Zahid is applying, except to say that this is the same logic used by Hitler to justify his pogroms against the Jews.“In a democracy, every citizen has a right to freely choose, without fear or favour, without being subjected to threats or tempted by money and gifts. What is the point of holding democratic elections if a voter can be branded as ungrateful for exercising his freedom of choice?” Lim asked.
Such inflammatory remarks by Zahid, Lim said, were clearly intended to create racial hatred and strike fear into the hearts of the Teluk Intan Chinese community and to force them to vote for BN.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the DAP secretary-general added, should prove his consistency by immediately disavowing Zahid's racist remark.
Yesterday, Zahid said Chinese voters, especially those with successful businesses, who choose DAP are "ingrates" as they areabandoning Malays and Indians who contributed to their wealth.
"I will be sad if the people of Teluk Intan choose DAP again. The Malays will be sad, and Indians even sadder. It is fine for the Chinese as they are traders, but what will happen if the Malays and Indians do not support the Chinese traders by not buying their goods? They can't survive either,” the home minister said.
Lim also criticised the Election Commission (EC) for not condemning incidents of vote-buying, as had been reported, even though the EC has no enforcement power.
“EC's inaction has resulted in BN leaders behaving like feudal overlords spreading largesse only during by-elections. The EC’s role as an apologist for the BN only reinforces Pakatan Rakyat's demands that the EC members resign because of their utter failure to uphold the law without fear or favour,” he added.
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