Gerakan president compares ancient Chinese patriot Qu Yuan to PN leaders

 

In conjunction with the Dragon Boat Festival, Gerakan president Dominic Lau has compared the tribulations of Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders to those experienced by the poet Qu Yuan, who was known for his patriotism.

The festival is held to commemorate Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period in ancient China. The poet, who was in exile, had drowned himself after hearing about the fall of the Chu empire.

Noting how Qu Yuan had been “sacrificed because of a political conspiracy”, Lau (above) claimed there were numerous similarities between the fallen patriot and the victimisation of PN leaders.

Ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan

“Since the formation of the coalition government between Pakatan Harapan and BN, there has been a deluge of allegations against PN leaders…

“For example, PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin was charged with ‘non-existent’ corruption. On the contrary, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is embroiled in a corruption case, is now the deputy prime minister,” he added in a media statement.

Muhyiddin has been charged with abuse of power and money laundering in relation to the Jana Wibawa programme, which was a Covid-19 stimulus initiative launched when he was prime minister to assist Malay contractors.

The PN chairperson has described the charges against him and others from his coalition as selective political prosecution.

PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin and BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Zahid, on the other hand, is facing 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi, which was set up to eradicate poverty.

The Umno president, who was hauled to court when Harapan was in power, had also claimed that the charges were politically motivated.

Think of the people

Meanwhile, Lau censured Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration for failing to bring about changes despite being at the helm for more than 200 days.

“The people are facing more difficulties,” he said, citing several examples such as the increasing prices of goods, the depreciation of the ringgit, and the hike in the overnight policy rate.

Therefore, Lau - whose multiracial party is considered by critics to be nothing more than window dressing in a coalition focused on issues related to the Malays and Islam - urged the people to be courageous to build a better nation. - Mkini