JOHOR POLLS | PAS may have softened its stance on hudud after joining the federal government but there have been creeping instances of extremism, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
He said this in response to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, who yesterday told a dinner with the Chinese community that they had nothing to fear about PAS as the Islamist party did not talk about ”potong, potong" (chop) in an apparent reference to hudud which includes amputation as punishment.
PAS is Bersatu's coalition partner in Perikatan Nasional (PN), together with Gerakan, Star and SAPP.
"Muhyiddin had urged the people to support them because PAS hasn't chopped here and chopped there, hasn’t chopped hands and chopped feet, hasn’t demanded hudud.
"But we can see that PAS is still extreme," Lim told a press conference in Batu Pahat today.
He cited the ban on the lottery in PAS-led Kedah as well as incidents of Hindu temple demolitions in the state.
The Bagan MP added that the Federal Territories now also face more stringent liquor licensing rules.
"These are policies advocated by PAS as a result of the party being part of the federal government," he said.
Lim also noted their engagement with the Taliban, stating that the priority should first be on helping Malaysians.
As such, Lim said he was confident that minorities won't back PN.
Muhyiddin has been on a charm offensive on the Chinese community in a bid to appeal for their votes ahead of the Johor polls.
Taruc fund issue
The PN chairperson also previously criticised Lim after depriving Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (Taruc) of funding when he was the finance minister under the Pakatan Harapan government from 2018 to 2020.
As the then finance minister, Lim had slashed the MCA-owned Taruc's funding from RM5.5 million to RM1 million in 2020 but said he was prepared to increase their funding to RM30 million if the political party relinquished control.
Lim questioned Muhyiddin's sudden interest in the issue.
"Muhyiddin claimed that I cut funding to Taruc which is a lie. He also never mentioned Taruc throughout his time in the cabinet but now has taken an interest in the matter," Lim said. Muhyiddin was the home minister at the time.
The former finance minister pointed out he eventually bumped up Taruc's funding to RM45 million but had channelled them through its alumni association as he did not want a political party to get its hands on the funds.
Guan Eng dismisses Wee’s debate challenge
On the matter of MCA president Wee Ka Siong challenging Lim to a debate, the DAP lawmaker said he had not followed the matter and directed queries to the party's Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.
On Feb 25, Wee challenged Teo, a former deputy education minister, to debate on Chinese education issues.
Teo promptly accepted the challenge but Wee later shifted his attention to Lim, asking instead to debate with the DAP secretary-general.
Wee claimed his challenge to Teo was only to "lure out" Lim.
Teo had said that Wee should debate her as per the original challenge instead of shifting the goalpost.
The debate is expected to take place tomorrow in Johor Bahru. - Mkini
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