By Phlip Rodrigues
Every move the DAP makes is seen by Pas as undermining the status of the ethnic Malays or the position of Islam as the official religion of the country.
The party is frequently portrayed as if it is public enemy number one, out to promote a secular state as part of its campaign to make its Malaysian dream come true.
Not long ago, the DAP mooted a proposal to formulate an anti-racial discrimination act to check the rising number of racial incidents.
An Islamist party politician immediately launched a mischievous attack with a dire warning. The politician argued that such a move would lead to a repeat of the May 13 racial riots in 1969.
The contention that the proposed law is an insidious attempt to abolish the rights of the dominant ethnic group is shallow and irrational.
But does Pas care? Its behaviour, thinking and actions all point to one inescapable conclusion: it is not interested in preserving and strengthening inter-ethnic harmony.
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When this old party, aged 74, speaks about the need to maintain peace among the various ethnic groups, it has a different meaning and interpretation.
Its idea of racial harmony has only one single purpose – and that is to preserve the pre-eminent position of the bumiputras, with Pas at the centre of the universe.
Hence, its overzealous leaders never fail to demonise the DAP at every opportunity they get. The misguided belief is that the DAP is the main troublemaker and stumbling block to Pas’ religious-fuelled ambition to create an Islamic state. They often pour hate and scorn into their speeches – whether it is over language, race or religion – creating a toxic environment.
As always, the DAP is singled out as the adversary that wants to usurp the rights of the Malays with its idea of enacting a law to rein in racial discrimination.
The proposal is innocuous and long overdue. But Pas does not see any merit in it. Why? One can only assume – perhaps not far off the mark – that the Islamist party wants to peddle the story that the ethnic minorities do not have equal rights in a society allegedly to be shaped by its conservative leaders.
How can inter-ethnic harmony be nurtured and sustained when one ethnic group is seen as ‘more equal’ than the others? Pas would rather see ‘the others’ ranked at the bottom of the social ladder than treat them as citizens enjoying the full benefits of a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious country.
In the absence of cogent, level-headed, pragmatic arguments, certain politicians in this party can only revive the bogeyman – May 13 – to try and scare the minorities into submission and acquiescence to the will of the majority.
But times have changed and the people are no longer afraid of the shadow of May 13. They have outgrown their fear and have come to the stage where they are cheesed off with the political antics of Pas.
These Islamist leaders must realise that they cannot push the minorities to the wall anymore. If push comes to shove, the ethnic minorities will certainly stand up for their rights in the country of their birth.
Phlip Rodrigues, a former journalist, is an Aliran reader.
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