The Najib-administration's "wasatiyyah" (moderation) push appear to be giving way to lies, hate, fear and bigotry, said DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang today.
Citing the recent outcry over Selangor state legislative assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh's book, Lim said values opposite to "moderation" are seeking to dictate public discourse.
"This is the irony of ironies. Malaysia is seeking to preach the 'wasatiyyah' (moderation) principles of justice, balance, mutual respect and excellence to all communities, nations and faiths in the world through the Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) initiative.
"But inside the country in recent times, 'waaatiyyah' seems to be giving way to very opposite values of extremism, excesses and fanaticism," said Lim in a statement today.
Yeoh has been in the spotlight of late after Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff claimed that her book "Becoming Hannah: A personal journey by Hannah Yeoh" was an attempt at proselytising to Muslims.
Kamarul Zaman backed up his claim by pointing to excerpts from the Bible featured prominently on Yeoh's book.
'I'm still not Christian'
Lim said that he was sorry that he only read Yeoh's book after the controversy erupted, two years after it was published.
"I am not a Christian after reading her book. I do not feel that Hannah was trying to proselytise or Christianise any person from another faith.
"I do not feel 'proselytised'! I am indeed surprised and shocked that an university academician can come to such a conclusion," said Lim.
Lim said that for Malaysia to succeed, the country and her people needs to fully recognise Malaysia's multi-racial and multi-religious character.
"(We can succeed if) Malaysians adhere to the Constitution and Rukunegara principles to be good Malaysians by being good Muslims, good Buddhists, good Christians, good Hindus, good Sikhs and good Taoists.
"Hannah's journey as a good Christian cannot threaten, but only fulfill, her journey as a good Malaysian, just as how adherents of other religions aspire to be good Malaysians," he said.- Mkini
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