PAS lawmaker Ismail Abdul Muttalib has denied allegations that the questions he raised in Parliament were racist and seditious.
On his question, if Chinese new villages still had communist links, the Maran MP said he sought clarification based on his observation and for security purposes.
“I know the history. For example, Chinese villages were settlements for those influenced by communism.
“So I do not wish for the perception that there are still communists in these villages to persist,” he told Malaysiakini.
Furthermore, he said the inhabitants of new villages must assimilate with the surrounding communities.
That is why he suggested moving the handling of these new villages under the National Unity Ministry so they can better assimilate with other communities, he explained.
The government established new villages during the communist insurgency to protect the Chinese community who were being threatened by communist fighters.
Based on his observations on the ground, Ismail claimed new village dwellers tend to be very mono-ethnic with some Chinese villagers not having a fluent grasp of the Malay language.
“Whereas in other villages, for example in Felda, there are also Chinese people even though it is specifically for the Malay people,” he said.
Malaysiakini previously reported that Ismail had, among others, submitted a parliamentary query asking why new villages were still being maintained and whether communism still exists in those places.
He also asked if the government had any plans to unify the villages under the same ministry.
Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail replied that new villages were established during the emergency era to handle the threat of communist insurgents.
He reiterated that Chinese villagers who resettled in new villages during that era were victims of communist insurgents and they are not former communists or supporters of the movement.
Aside from this question, Ismail also asked the government to justify its rationale for “recognising” citizens born after Malaysia’s independence regardless of “skin colour”.
In addition, he also asked why a “state government” had issued an instruction for all mosques in the state to lower the volume of the call for prayers (azan).
His questions received criticisms from other lawmakers including DAP leader P Ramasamy - who said Ismail could be charged under the Sedition Act for his “incendiary” questions.
Selangor state executive councillor Ng Sze Han also chided Ismail for his take on new villages. - Mkini
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