Samsuri’s critics
misunderstand his
presence at Huazong event,
says analyst
Lau Zhe Wei praises the PAS vice-president for reaching out to the Chinese community.
Lau Zhe Wei of International Islamic University Malaysia said the Terengganu menteri besar’s presence was an invitation to the association’s many businessmen to invest in his state.
He said it also marked an effort by a PAS leader to reach out to the Chinese community for support and votes.
“It is only that the political climate in PAS today has become rather racist. Anyone seen supporting other ethnic groups (besides the Malays) will become the centre of racial issues in the party,” he told FMT.
Lau was commenting on the online response to Samsuri’s Facebook post on his presence at the event organised by Huazong on Feb 9.
Some commenters said the association “should be taught a lesson”, as its leaders had recently supported the government’s dismissal of proposed guidelines for Muslims at non-Muslim events.
Some also linked Samsuri with DAP, given DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s presence at the same event.
The attacks on Samsuri also came ahead of the party’s polls in September. Samsuri has yet to announce whether he will defend his post or aim for another one.
National Professors’ Council fellow Azmi Hassan said many social media users did not understand that Huazong is largely focused on education, economics, and culture.
“This misunderstanding has caused people to accuse Samsuri of allying with DAP,” he said.
Azmi also said he believed the current PAS leadership had no issues with Chinese traditions held at the event, such as yee sang.
“Maybe they used to disagree with such traditions, but they have broadened their understanding and become more open,” he said.
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