Regardless of DAP holding the most number of Parliament seats in the government, former Umno supreme council member Nazri Abdul Aziz said the prime minister and menteri besar positions have remained with the Malays.
As such, the former Padang Rengas MP said claims of Malays being "oppressed" under the administration, which also comprises DAP as part of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, was a lie.
"It’s difficult when racial issues are being played up, as it gives an impression that Islam is under siege and this sentiment will certainly benefit Perikatan Nasional. It’s 2023, enough already.
"If race issues are used purely to fool the people... lying to the people as if Malays and Islam are under siege, this is not right," said Nazri when met last night at a Harapan-BN ceramah in Ukay Perdana, Hulu Kelang.
Nazri now serves as the Malaysian ambassador to the United States.
"Like in the past, people were angry at DAP, even though it’s true that DAP is (close) with the Chinese, but after they (Harapan) won, (DAP) did not become prime minister or menteri besar.
"The one who became PM is a Malay, so all the stories about Malays being oppressed under the unity government with DAP, those are lies," Nazri reiterated.
The former minister added that the situation is similar in Harapan-led states where Malays remained as menteri besar in Malay-majority Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, despite DAP's number of seats.
Nazri said this when asked for comments on a PN narrative - particularly by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang - using DAP's alleged influence as ammunition to attack the government.
Among others, DAP was constantly accused of being a "racist party" for championing equal rights.
The party was also regularly accused of being anti-royalty and against Islam being the religion of the federation.
On Aug 2, Hadi claimed among the reason PAS had severed ties with DAP was due to the party's alleged interference on policies related to Islam.
This was on top of PAS' objections to efforts to revive local government election, which the party claimed was DAP's way of reclaiming control of cities, and so it could once again stoke racial tensions.
‘Stop outdated racial politics’
Out of 81 Harapan parliamentary seats, DAP holds the most at 40.
Meanwhile, Nazri also questioned the alleged threats to Malays in the present political situation that continues to be dominated by the bumiputera community.
"Like in Perak, if going by the numbers in government, DAP can have a menteri besar candidate because they have a Malay representative. But the position is held by a Malay from BN.
"So where is the threat to Malays? Unless that threat is being used to lie (and gain support).
"I hope voters will understand, racial politics used in the 1960s and 1970s is no longer relevant today,” he said.
"We must make Malays realise that we were never under threat," he added. - Mkini
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