“Totally brainless for PAS to surrender winnable Malay majority seats for Gerakan to contest”

Focus Malaysia:

“Totally brainless for PAS to surrender winnable Malay majority seats for Gerakan to contest”

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RENOWNED convert Muslim preacher Prof Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah has described as “sheer stupidity” for PAS to allow Gerakan to contest in its Malay majority strongholds in the quest to portray Perikatan Nasional (PN) as a multi-racial coalition.

The academician with a pro-opposition stance instead suggested that PN can still be a multi-racial opposition bloc by appointing non-Malays “who are not ultra kiasu as senators” in the Dewan Negara or upper house.

“What is Gerakan’s contribution all this while after being booted’ out from Barisan Nasional (BN)?” penned the lecturer of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin in Kuala Terengganu in a recent Facebook post.

“Since Gerakan no longer ruled Penang, it did not get the support of the Chinese at all. The party apparently failed to convince the Chinese to vote for the PAS Malay candidate. Any increase in Gerakan’s vote is comes from the Malays. Don’t expect the Chinese to vote for Gerakan.”

Ridhuan was commenting on the proposal by some political analysts that PAS should contemplate to hand over winnable Malay majority seats to Gerakan to contest so as to ensure that the party is in the Cabinet, “thus making the PN-led government colourful”.

Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai (left) and PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang (middle)

“Why is it necessary to hand over seats that can be (easily) won to Gerakan? Why has Gerakan done to ensure its candidate can emerge victorious in Chinese majority constituencies?

“What is the role of Gerakan to ensure that the Chinese vote for PN? Wasn’t Gerakan a Chinese-dominated party all this time? Why isn’t Gerakan no longer getting Chinese support?”

As an alternative to Gerakan, Ridhuan suggested that PN find a solution in Parti Cinta Malaysia aside from approaching Malay-liked personalities like Apek Cina (Tai Zee How) , Prof Datuk Dr Teo Kok Siong and social activist Helen Ang, and others.

Helen Ang

“These Chinese, really understand the history of this country and have a strong sense of patriotism. Willing to live and die for the country, not like Gerakan, MCA and DAP who are merely ultra kiasu and always looking for space and opportunities. Unfortunately, once given space and opportunity, they become ungrateful.”

Added Ridhuan who has a reputation as a fierce DAP critic and had been barred from making appearances as a panellist on RTM’s Forum Perdana Ehwal Islam in the aftermath of the 15th General Election (GE15):

“Gerakan will surely rot if it ever goes solo. If Gerakan joins PH (Pakatan Harapan), its fate will be the same as MCA. The fate of these two parties is the same, the majority of Chinese will still not vote for them even though they are known to be a Chinese party. The Chinese prefer the ultra kiasu DAP.” – Feb 17, 2024