‘DAP misleading Chinese community’

MCA accuses DAP of misleading the Chinese community by saying that PAS is a moderate and not an extremist party.

PETALING JAYA: MCA today accused DAP of misleading the Chinese community by portraying PAS as a moderate party.

Deputy chairman of MCA publicity bureau Loh Seng Kok said PAS’ threat to quit Pakatan Rakyat if religious and ethnic interests are not protected shows DAP has created a superficial facade of PAS’ hardline ways.

“Given PAS’ rigid agenda which will encroach into and endanger the rights of non-Muslims, then DAP should pull out from any unhealthy movement,” Loh said in a press statement.

“Refraining from acting accordingly will only help PAS grow further in power which in turn, will eventually oppress the rights and interests of the non-Muslim community,” he added.

Loh noted PAS president Hadi Awang’s announcement that PAS would quit Pakatan if cooperation with PKR and DAP results with Malays and Islam being compromised.

“Hadi’s comments prove that PAS is an extremist party and not a moderate one as touted by DAP,” he said.

“As PAS is showing its true colours as a hardline party, DAP should withdraw from Pakatan to pre-empt PAS’ fuel to the fire,” he added.

Loh further noted that the three Pakatan allies had claimed consensus and cooperation, which meant PAS was willing to continue to work with PKR and DAP towards creating a theocratic state and implementing PAS hudud enactment.

“DAP claims to uphold democracy, freedom and human rights, but as PAS being the most hegemonic party, the other two parties must listen to PAS, or else PAS would leave,” he claimed.

He reiterated DAP had created an artificial facade of PAS as an “open-minded and progressive party” but Hadi’s remarks “lay bare PAS’ intent of only expanding hardline dogmatic interests and forming a theocratic state, based simply on ultra-conservatism and extremism”.

He warned DAP to have a sense of urgency and alertness, and thus must be able to foresee such a crisis.

“Although the three partners stress that co-operation exists among them, in reality, they make strange bedfellows,” he said.

“DAP’s claims that PAS practises moderation and treats all races and religions justly is a deception designed to mislead the public.”