It is not a surprise that UMNO , MCA and Gerakan Ministers namely, Datuk Khairy Jamaluddin, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dhalan , Datuk Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Mah Siew Keong have come out to defend the Deputy Prime Minister’s “anotherMay 13 is not impossible “remark by claiming that the remark was a mere reminder.
Other than trying to down play the remark and falsely accusing the DAP of sensationalizing the issue, how else could they have justified Muhyiddin’s unbecoming, irresponsible and indefensible remark?
Khairy has asked if it is wrong for a national leader to remind the people to safeguard unity. Minister for Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Abdul Rahman Dahlan asked in his twitter postings-“Why is DAP confused between reminder and threat?”
But the question is -was Muhyiddin making a reminder?
It was clear that he was making a threat as he made the remark in the context of worsening ethnic relations arising from Malay/ Muslim unhappiness when he expressed fears about the insults hurled at Malays and Muslims of late.
Two days ago, it was reported that Muhyiddin Yassin said that “various quarters” were taking advantage of Muslim disunity to threaten the position of Islam in the country.
“Of late, pressures are mounting from various quarters who have questioned the position of Islam as the official religion of the federation and the implementation of laws by the syariah court,” he was quoted by the national newswire Bernama as saying.
I reiterate what I said yesterday—I do not believe that Malaysia ‘s ethnic relations is on the verge of erupting into racial clashes or riots for two main reasons, firstly, Malays and Islam are not under any attack as portrayed by some Malay extremist groups and secondly, there is no feeling of tension among the races.
Let me ask the four Ministers who have defended Tan Sri Muhyiddin to answer the following questions:
- Who was Muhyiddin “reminding”?
- Who have been attacking Malays and Islam?
- Who are the extremist groups who have been stoking racial hated since the last general elections?
- What actions have been taken against the extremist groups?
It was obvious that Muhyiddin was blaming and reminding the non Malay communities. Can Liow and Mah explain why the non Malay communities should be “reminded” about a possible repeat of May 13 when they have not attacked Malays or Islam?