DAP slams BN’s non-Malay parties for standing behind Umno amid rising religious tensions
The DAP has slammed Barisan Nasional's major non-Malay component parties for "blindly supporting" the coalition's dominant partner Umno in spreading racial hatred.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng accused the MCA, MIC and Gerakan of condoning Umno's acts against non-Muslim religious rights.
"Even though Selangor Umno has called off its threat to hold protests outside Catholic churches during prayers on Sundays, its state chairman (Datuk Seri Noh Omar) has threatened mega-demonstrations by Malay groups aligned with the party.
"For the first time, there will be demonstrations outside churches on Sunday.
"Umno must realise that a majority of Malaysians are not amused by their games, playing with the fires of religious hatred in the Allah issue to pit Muslims and non-Muslims against each other," the Penang Chief Minister said in a statement.
Lim said many Malays and Muslims opposed the raid by the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) last Thursday at the Bible Society of Malaysia, which saw the seizure of over 300 copies of the Bible, and the brief detention of two BSM leaders.
Lim said Malaysians were now wondering whether religious freedom guaranteed by the Federal Constitution, as well as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia spirit, have now been abandoned.
"Worse still, Malaysians are feeling betrayed when Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin chose to pour oil into the fire by sanctioning the right of Muslim groups to demonstrate outside churches on Sundays, instead of playing the peacemaker.
"The DAP condemns Umno for playing such racial games and the component parties in MCA, MIC and Gerakan for condoning such acts by continuing to support UMNO," he said.
Lim also said by deliberately playing up tensions between the different faiths, UMNO is attempting to divert attention from livelihood problems faced by the people.
He said ordinary Malaysians want to address national problems together in a spirit of common national heritage and citizenry.
"The DAP is confident that Malaysians will opt for religious harmony and mutual respect as well as racial cohesion and co-existence over the disreputable demonstrations, discrimination and dichotomy of BN."
Muhyiddin, the Umno deputy president, had agreed with Selangor Umno's call for Reverend Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of Catolic weekly Herald, to retract his statement over the use of the word “Allah” by Malay-speaking Christians residing in the state.
Muhyiddin also reportedly said that a plan to stage protests outside churches in Selangor was not against the law.
The protests were to pressure Andrew to retract and apologise his statement that Christians have the right to use the word Allah. - January 5, 2014.
