Four Malay DAP leaders have asked why PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is now criticising the party over its stance on Islam and the Federal Constitution when the two parties previously worked together in the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat.
DAP vice-chairman Syahredzan Johan, assistant national publicity secretary Young Syefura Othman, central leadership member Sheikh ‘Umar Bagharib Ali and Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid were responding to Hadi’s recent “Minda Presiden PAS”.
In it, the Marang MP accused DAP of working to steer the constitution back towards secular rule.
Past cooperation highlighted
“Hadi needs to explain why the (so-called issue) was never an obstacle when PAS and DAP worked together in Pakatan Rakyat, including contesting several elections together,” they said in a joint statement.
Pakatan Rakyat was formed in 2008 by PAS, DAP and PKR. The coalition won 82 parliamentary seats in the general election that year and formed the state governments in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor, while PAS retained Kelantan.
The coalition effectively ended in 2015 after PAS’s muktamar voted to sever ties with DAP following a prolonged dispute over the implementation of hudud.
DAP’s position on the constitution
Syahredzan, Syefura, Syerleena and Sheikh ‘Umar said the now 60-year-old DAP had contested elections and operated according to the constitution and the law throughout its history, whether in opposition or in government.
They said the party respected parliamentary democracy, freedom of religion and the legitimate interests of all communities, including their right to speak, learn and teach in their mother tongues.
They also said DAP’s “Malaysia for Malaysians” slogan was based on equality under Article 8 of the constitution and did not reject other provisions, including Article 153 on the special position of the Malays and Bumiputeras.
Call for constructive politics
The four DAP leaders also said attacks on the party should not be used to obscure PAS’s own political history, and that political differences should not be turned into accusations that non-PAS parties are un-Islamic, unpatriotic or disrespectful of the constitution.
“Politics in Malaysia should move forward with arguments and policies, not by sowing fear towards other races and religions,” they said.
They also said it was unfortunate for a political leader to use language that could divide Malaysians during National Month and ahead of the 69th National Day celebrations.
