‘Malay-Muslim unity’ narrative hampers PH’s efforts to woo Malays, says Fahmi
2 hours ago
Elill Easwaran
The PKR information chief says the coalition will counter such narratives by focusing on its performance in government
PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said PH would work harder to show that Malay-Muslim interests had not been sidelined under the coalition’s administration.
SEREMBAN: Pakatan Harapan has acknowledged that the Malay-Muslim unity narrative Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional are pushing made it difficult for the Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition to woo the Malay electorate in Negeri Sembilan.
PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said the narrative had proven effective at the Johor polls earlier this month, which saw a landslide victory for BN.
He said PH would counter such narratives by focusing on its performance in government.
“The narrative has indeed proven effective in Johor, where we saw Malay votes, particularly those from PAS, being consolidated and added to the support for Barisan Nasional candidates. So yes, it is a challenge,” Fahmi said at a press conference.
Negeri Sembilan DAP secretary Cha Kee Chin and Amanah communications director Khalid Samad were also present.
Khalid, meanwhile, said the Malay-Muslim unity narrative threatened nation-building, arguing that when people were divided and pitted against one another along racial lines, it would create problems.
“PH sees this as a threat not only in elections but also in efforts to foster unity among Malaysians. Unity is good, but the purpose behind that unity is equally important.”
He questioned the objective behind calls for Malay unity, especially if they were framed around confronting non-Malays.
“If Malays unite because they are being told there is a threat from non-Malays, as is implicitly suggested in such calls, it will only lead to racial division and tension.”
Khalid however said PH would be able to respond more effectively to such narratives in the run up to the Negeri Sembilan polls as BN and PAS’s cooperation was out in the open.
In Johor, PAS and BN cooperated “behind closed doors”.
“Here (in Negeri Sembilan), it is being done openly, so the narrative is much clearer and voters can see for themselves the dangers of such an alliance,” he said.
He urged voters to unite and vote for good governance.
Who truly represents Malay-Muslim interests?
Fahmi also said some political leaders had sought to create the impression that only one group could claim to represent Malay-Muslim interests.
“If that is the case, then are Khalid and I not Malay-Muslims? Politics that is this exclusive does not reflect the diversity and pluralism of our country. It only plants the seeds of division that Khalid spoke about earlier.”
He said PH viewed the narrative seriously and would work harder to engage Malay voters by demonstrating that Malay-Muslim interests had not been sidelined under the coalition’s administration.
Fahmi pointed out that more mosques had been built in Negeri Sembilan under Aminuddin Harun, while zakat collection had more than doubled.
He said such achievements proved that the PH-led state government had not neglected Malay-Muslims.
“The menteri besar is himself a Malay-Muslim, so support the Malay-Muslim leader named Aminuddin.”
PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said the narrative had proven effective at the Johor polls earlier this month, which saw a landslide victory for BN.
He said PH would counter such narratives by focusing on its performance in government.
“The narrative has indeed proven effective in Johor, where we saw Malay votes, particularly those from PAS, being consolidated and added to the support for Barisan Nasional candidates. So yes, it is a challenge,” Fahmi said at a press conference.
Negeri Sembilan DAP secretary Cha Kee Chin and Amanah communications director Khalid Samad were also present.
Khalid, meanwhile, said the Malay-Muslim unity narrative threatened nation-building, arguing that when people were divided and pitted against one another along racial lines, it would create problems.
“PH sees this as a threat not only in elections but also in efforts to foster unity among Malaysians. Unity is good, but the purpose behind that unity is equally important.”
He questioned the objective behind calls for Malay unity, especially if they were framed around confronting non-Malays.
“If Malays unite because they are being told there is a threat from non-Malays, as is implicitly suggested in such calls, it will only lead to racial division and tension.”
Khalid however said PH would be able to respond more effectively to such narratives in the run up to the Negeri Sembilan polls as BN and PAS’s cooperation was out in the open.
In Johor, PAS and BN cooperated “behind closed doors”.
“Here (in Negeri Sembilan), it is being done openly, so the narrative is much clearer and voters can see for themselves the dangers of such an alliance,” he said.
He urged voters to unite and vote for good governance.
Who truly represents Malay-Muslim interests?
Fahmi also said some political leaders had sought to create the impression that only one group could claim to represent Malay-Muslim interests.
“If that is the case, then are Khalid and I not Malay-Muslims? Politics that is this exclusive does not reflect the diversity and pluralism of our country. It only plants the seeds of division that Khalid spoke about earlier.”
He said PH viewed the narrative seriously and would work harder to engage Malay voters by demonstrating that Malay-Muslim interests had not been sidelined under the coalition’s administration.
Fahmi pointed out that more mosques had been built in Negeri Sembilan under Aminuddin Harun, while zakat collection had more than doubled.
He said such achievements proved that the PH-led state government had not neglected Malay-Muslims.
“The menteri besar is himself a Malay-Muslim, so support the Malay-Muslim leader named Aminuddin.”
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Stop whining lah - just following Tun's call - wakakaka
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