I refer to a series of twitter statements by Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Dato’ Abdul Rahman Dahlan questioning DAP’s “agitation” over talks about Malay or Muslim unity. The tweets in question are as follows:
“Kit Siang, calling 4 (for) Malay unity doesn’t mean Msian (Malaysian) unity is sidelined. Malay unity is crucial for national stability. Why is DAP agitated?
“Kit Siang should be more worried about DAP’s increasing chauvinism and egoism. That trend is more disruptive and dangerous.
“Look at the Pakatan’s simmering breakup. Blame it squarely on DAP’s chauvinism and egoism and their holier-than-thou attitude.”
The minister’s tweets were made yesterday in response to DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang’s remarks stating “it is sad that 58 years after Merdeka, and six years after the launching of his 1Malaysia signature policy, Najib has retreated to talk about Muslim unity instead of Malaysian unity.”
Kit Siang made those comments following Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak’s announcement that Umno will not be contesting the Chempaka by-election against Pas for the sake of “Muslim unity.”
Judging by the unfounded tirade about DAP’s “chauvinism and egoism,” it is obvious that the only one displaying agitation is not Kit Siang but Rahman Dahlan himself. In this context, the minister’s pernicious attack on the DAP is nothing more than a clumsy attempt to cover up his government’s glaring hypocrisy on the matter.
Merely a few years ago, before the 13th General Election, the Prime Minister had been an avid campaigner for national unity through the 1Malaysia campaign. However, after suffering record electoral losses and coming close to losing power for the first time in history, the 1Malaysia slogan has been consigned to the rubbish bin. In its stead, a Malay and Muslim unity agenda has emerged in tandem with a consolidated effort to blame the Chinese for everything from their electoral defeat to the hike in prices of goods.
Does Umno truly believe in Malay and Muslim unity?
If Umno truly believes in Malay unity, then why does it not prove its sincerity by paying the RM12 billion in oil and gas royalty that the Kelantan state government alleges is owed to them? While Sabah and Sarawak have no problems receiving their share of revenue from resources mined in their state as stipulated by the Petroleum Development Act 1974, Kelantan has been starved of these funds for years.
For Umno to now speak of unity when it is they who have marginalised the Malays in Kelantan for continually supporting Pas is not only unethical but also disgusting, especially when they purport to do so in the name of race and religion.
Another example of Umno’s double standards is its sudden support for the implementation of Hudud in Kelantan. Throughout the years, successive Umno prime ministers have always maintained the law’s unconstitutionality and unsuitability in Malaysia. However, Najib’s weak leadership and waning popularity in recent years has seen the ruling party suddenly resorting to supporting Hudud.
This was reiterated just last week by Umno Deputy Minister and Supreme Council Member Dato’ Razali Ismail who pledged that Umno “will continue to support the Islamic party on the implementation of Hudud in Kelantan.”
Once again, Umno’s sincerity on this issue is highly questionable. If indeed Umno is so supportive of Hudud, then why have they not implemented it in the states that they control? Why the sudden pretence in supporting Pas when they could have implemented it at the federal level having commanded two-thirds majority for so many years?
In truth, all Umno has proven through its racial and religious posturing is that the party is willing to prostitute itself for narrow political gains. In this light, Umno’s decision not to participate in the Chempaka by-election on the pretext of Muslim unity is simply an excuse to hide the fact that they would probably lose their deposit if they do so. After all, this is not the first time that they have refused to nominate a candidate for a by-election, most recently in the Bukit Gelugor by-election last year. Was that also for the sake of unity?
The fact is that the Umno-Barisan Nasional regime has long outlived its welcome and is no longer supported by Malaysians, as evidenced by their clear popular vote defeat in the last general election. After years of corruption scandals, abuse of power, financial mismanagement, and faced with gloomy economic prospects especially in light of the upcoming implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, it is obvious that the Malay and Muslim unity agenda is nothing more than a desperate ruse by Umno to extend their political life.