Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy UMNO President, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin failed two Najibbian tests – firstly as a “moderate” and secondly, as a loyal supporter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s “1Malaysia” signature policy.
Muhyiddin flunked both these two tests when he gave a most racist, extremist and panicky reaction to the recent entry of Malays who are Malaysian patriots and fighters for freedom and justice into the DAP – like former UMNO Pahang State Assemblyman (Pulau Manis) Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz who is more wellknown in blogosphere as Sakmongkol 47, veteran Negeri Sembilan Umno member Aspan Alias, former National Union of Journalist President Hata Wahari, and two young UiTM law graduates Fairuz Azhan Amirruddin 25 and Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud 24.
Muhyiddin warned Malays not to allow themselves “to fall into the trap being carefully laid for them by the DAP”, posing the rhetorical question: “After so long, suddenly they want to recruit Malays. Who knows what for?”
He went on as the stereotypical racist and extremist, alleging that “the DAP had never even once stood up for the rights of the Malays”.
This is the latest lie and falsehood against the DAP by UMNO leaders and mouthpieces.
But Muhyiddin cannot be more wrong, which is a terrible reflection of his racist and extremist mentality and outlook.
Right from the very formation of DAP 46 years ago in 1966, DAP had conducted itself as a patriotic and multi-racial Malaysian political movement dedicated to the cause of all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region.
In fact, the DAP is the first pan-Malaysian political party, with branches not only in Peninsular Malaysia states but also in Sabah and Sarawak. Even now, UMNO and MCA are not Pan-Malaysian political parties as they do not operate in Sarawak while the history of DAP in both Sabah and Sarawak is more than 30 years.
Malays have joined DAP, not just recently, but from the very beginning of the party history with DAP fielding Malay candidates whether for parliamentary or state assembly seats since our first general election participation in 1969.
As I mentioned at the media conference in Ipoh on January 21 to welcome the entry into the DAP of two UiTM law graduates, Fairuz Azhan and Dyana Sofya, there had been five Malay elected State Assemblymen in Perak DAP history. We have two Malay MPs, the late Ahmad Nor and the current Penang Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz.
Right from the very beginning more than four decades ago, DAP leaders in and out of Parliament have fought for the oppressed and suppressed Malays just like other Malaysians whether of Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli, Kadazan and Iban descent, whether as workers, peasants, fishermen, smallholders, as they are all entitled to justice, freedom and to be liberated from the tyranny of corruption, cronyism, undemocratic misgovernance and all forms of exploitation resulting in the denial of their human rights and democratic liberties.
We have, for instance, no hesitation in championing the cause of the ordinary Malays and bumiputeras who have been exploited by UMNO leaders and cronies claiming for themselves the privileges of Umno-putras!
After the 308 political tsunami of the 12th general elections and the formation of Pakatan Rakyat comprising DAP, PKR and PAS, Malaysian politics and nation-building have entered a new phase, as more and more Malays could see and discover for themselves the UMNO lies and falsehoods of the past decades which had tried to poison the Malay mind by painting the DAP as anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Malay Rulers.
This is what is causing panic among UMNO leaders like Muhyiddin, for they have found that their lies and falsehoods against the DAP is finding a diminishing market even among the Malays in Malaysia.
Recently, the Prime Minister hosted the International Conference for the Global Movement of Moderates calling on Moderates of the world to unite and speak out against all forms of extremism.
Muhyiddin’s racist and extremist reaction has vindicated my earlier criticism of Muhyiddin being invited to close the Conference, as Muhyiddin does not qualify to be a moderate.
If Muhyiddin is a “moderate”, he would have welcomed more Malays joining the DAP to strenghthen the voice and forces of moderation in Malaysia against all forms of extremism.
Muhyiddin had in fact also failed the second Najibbian test – to be a loyal supporter of Najib’s “1Malaysia” signature policy to create a Malaysia where every Malaysian regards himself or herself as Malaysian first and his/her race, religion, region or socio-economic position second.
The entry of more Malays into DAP is a flowering of Najib’s 1Malaysia policy – but this is frowned upon by Muhyiddin’s racist and extremist outlook for he opposes Malaysians regarding themselves as Malaysian first and their race, religion, region or socio-economic position second!
Who can forget Muhyiddin’s public declaration, which still stands today, that he is opposed to the 1Malaysia policy, as he is Malay first and Malaysian second?
The biggest enemy and threat to Najib’s 1Malaysia comes from racists and extremists like Muhyiddin!
(Speech at the Tawau DAP Chinese New Year Open House in Tawau on Saturday, 28th January 2012 at 10 am)