KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang expressed today his distress on the continued use of race and religious cards by politicians to put down their rivals.
In a statement, the veteran federal Opposition lawmaker noted it was heartwarming that Malaysians transcend racial and religious differences to help each other as seen during the Penang floods last week, but asked why such unity was only prominently displayed during natural disasters.
“This is a question that deserves serious thought by national leaders from all political parties as well as Malaysians, as I find distressing that there are political leaders who does not miss a beat by continuing in the old politics of race and religion, packaged in new packet of fake news and false information, to create rifts in our society,” the Gelang Patah MP said.
As example, he alluded to recent reported remarks by Umno’s information chief whom he did not name but chastised.
“An information chief of a political party is no more the party’s principal official to convey information but to disseminate fake news and false information, with the Umno Information Chief providing the most recent illustration,” Lim said.
Several media outlets cited Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa earlier today alleging Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was being used by the DAP when he ordered state agencies to cancel their subscriptions to two Malay-language newspapers, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian.
Annuar had reportedly described the DAP as anti-Malay and anti-Islam in his statement criticising the Selangor MB.
Lim reminded political leaders that it was time they showed commitment to politics of inclusivity and openness instead of intolerance after decades of nationhood.
