(From left) DAP figures Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and Howard Lee have recently found themselves on the receiving end of backlash over statements which were considered to be touching on Malay or Muslim issues. – File pic, January 12, 2024
Dear DAP leaders, there are many ways to skin a cat – Terence Fernandez
Political smarts are needed when addressing contentious issues
Terence Fernandez
12 January, 2024
ETHNIC Chinese leaders of DAP have of late been on the receiving end of criticism and with one even (perceived) violence over their statements touching on the Malay race and Islam.
Last month, party stalwart Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang found himself in hot water following a speech in London to a group of Malaysian students, where he was reported to have expressed a wish to see a non-Malay prime minister.
Lim said he meant no provocation but merely pointed out that the federal constitution allows for a minority prime minister.
In September, my friend Ipoh Timur MP Howard Lee was on the radar of the police and political opponents for reciting a Quranic verse in a TikTok video.
Lee had recited Verse 59 of Surah An-Nisa in his critique, ironically, of certain politicians who use religion to fish for votes.
As it happens, Lee and I were enjoying breakfast at a deli in New York where we were both attending the United Nations General Assembly when he received a call from Bukit Aman to present himself for his statement to be taken.
He has since apologised and the matter is considered closed.
Now, Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham had become the recipient of a Molotov cocktail attack at his home on January 10.
Ngeh himself admitted that the attack could be spurred by his suggestion last month that a non-Muslim be appointed to the special committee endorsed by the Conference of Rulers to enhance the standing of the shariah court.
This idea of his was met with a slew of protests and police reports for interfering in Muslim affairs.
While theoretically, the statements from these three leaders are not wrong, one would ask what is the need for these statements to be made – and are they the people to make them?
As politicians, they should be savvy enough to know sometimes it is not what is said, but who said it.
Lim, for instance, was echoing a similar remark made by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – although the latter was cautioning that a divided Malay race could see the ascension of a non-Malay prime minister.
Lee is well-versed in Malay customs and has a deft understanding of Islam. His mastery of Bahasa Malaysia has also endeared him to the Malay communities he serves as MP, as well as neighbouring Tambun – the parliamentary seat of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – which Lee also helps out in.
Ngeh, meanwhile, was articulating the need to ensure the rights and concerns of non-Muslims do not go unheeded.
A Pew Research Centre survey revealed that 86% of Muslims would rather have shariah law as the official law of the country.
Whether one cares to admit it or not, as Malaysia’s official religion, Islam impacts one’s way of life on a daily basis – be they Muslim or non-Muslim.
Just look at the PAS-controlled states with their restrictions as well as outright bans on alcohol consumption and 4D outlets.
Non-Muslims have been victimised by subjective interpretations of dress codes by security guards and government officers at public buildings, police stations and even hospitals.
So in light of the heated temperatures on religiosity, is it prudent for DAP leaders to stoke the fire?
Could a more savvy and softer approach be adopted to address the concerns?
Perhaps here is where it could employ the assistance of Muslim leaders in Pakatan Harapan or even their foe-turned-friends Umno to articulate the trepidations of the non-Muslims.
DAP does not have anything to prove to its voter base. If anything, it needs now to demonstrate that it is indeed a party for all Malaysians – including the Malay-Muslims. Here is where the challenge lies in building Malay leadership in DAP.
At the moment, one can count on the fingers of one hand the number of senior Malay-Muslim leaders in DAP.
Perhaps Lim was testing the waters. Maybe Lee was earnestly trying to endear himself and his party to Muslim voters, i.e. that Chinese leaders in DAP do take the trouble to study and understand the Quran.
Ngeh probably needed to allay the concerns of the non-Muslims.
In all the above situations, one has seen party secretary-general Anthony Loke emerging with a mop and a bucket to do damage control.
DAP leaders should probably follow his lead and deft handling of contentious issues – through dialogue, the appropriate platforms and a constant reconciliatory tone without any need for provocative statements.
What is the point of being a prime minister of any ethnicity when your country burns? – January 12, 2024
Terence Fernandez is group editor in chief of Big Boom Media which publishes Scoop
Political smarts are needed when addressing contentious issues
Terence Fernandez
12 January, 2024
ETHNIC Chinese leaders of DAP have of late been on the receiving end of criticism and with one even (perceived) violence over their statements touching on the Malay race and Islam.
Last month, party stalwart Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang found himself in hot water following a speech in London to a group of Malaysian students, where he was reported to have expressed a wish to see a non-Malay prime minister.
Lim said he meant no provocation but merely pointed out that the federal constitution allows for a minority prime minister.
In September, my friend Ipoh Timur MP Howard Lee was on the radar of the police and political opponents for reciting a Quranic verse in a TikTok video.
Lee had recited Verse 59 of Surah An-Nisa in his critique, ironically, of certain politicians who use religion to fish for votes.
As it happens, Lee and I were enjoying breakfast at a deli in New York where we were both attending the United Nations General Assembly when he received a call from Bukit Aman to present himself for his statement to be taken.
He has since apologised and the matter is considered closed.
Now, Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham had become the recipient of a Molotov cocktail attack at his home on January 10.
Ngeh himself admitted that the attack could be spurred by his suggestion last month that a non-Muslim be appointed to the special committee endorsed by the Conference of Rulers to enhance the standing of the shariah court.
This idea of his was met with a slew of protests and police reports for interfering in Muslim affairs.
While theoretically, the statements from these three leaders are not wrong, one would ask what is the need for these statements to be made – and are they the people to make them?
As politicians, they should be savvy enough to know sometimes it is not what is said, but who said it.
Lim, for instance, was echoing a similar remark made by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – although the latter was cautioning that a divided Malay race could see the ascension of a non-Malay prime minister.
Lee is well-versed in Malay customs and has a deft understanding of Islam. His mastery of Bahasa Malaysia has also endeared him to the Malay communities he serves as MP, as well as neighbouring Tambun – the parliamentary seat of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – which Lee also helps out in.
Ngeh, meanwhile, was articulating the need to ensure the rights and concerns of non-Muslims do not go unheeded.
A Pew Research Centre survey revealed that 86% of Muslims would rather have shariah law as the official law of the country.
Whether one cares to admit it or not, as Malaysia’s official religion, Islam impacts one’s way of life on a daily basis – be they Muslim or non-Muslim.
Just look at the PAS-controlled states with their restrictions as well as outright bans on alcohol consumption and 4D outlets.
Non-Muslims have been victimised by subjective interpretations of dress codes by security guards and government officers at public buildings, police stations and even hospitals.
So in light of the heated temperatures on religiosity, is it prudent for DAP leaders to stoke the fire?
Could a more savvy and softer approach be adopted to address the concerns?
Perhaps here is where it could employ the assistance of Muslim leaders in Pakatan Harapan or even their foe-turned-friends Umno to articulate the trepidations of the non-Muslims.
DAP does not have anything to prove to its voter base. If anything, it needs now to demonstrate that it is indeed a party for all Malaysians – including the Malay-Muslims. Here is where the challenge lies in building Malay leadership in DAP.
At the moment, one can count on the fingers of one hand the number of senior Malay-Muslim leaders in DAP.
Perhaps Lim was testing the waters. Maybe Lee was earnestly trying to endear himself and his party to Muslim voters, i.e. that Chinese leaders in DAP do take the trouble to study and understand the Quran.
Ngeh probably needed to allay the concerns of the non-Muslims.
In all the above situations, one has seen party secretary-general Anthony Loke emerging with a mop and a bucket to do damage control.
DAP leaders should probably follow his lead and deft handling of contentious issues – through dialogue, the appropriate platforms and a constant reconciliatory tone without any need for provocative statements.
What is the point of being a prime minister of any ethnicity when your country burns? – January 12, 2024
Terence Fernandez is group editor in chief of Big Boom Media which publishes Scoop
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