‘DAP USING LIM’S STATEMENT TO TEST THE WATERS’
It is a sign that DAP wants to get rid of Bumiputera rights, says Umno
LIM Guan Eng’s use of Mandarin in an official Finance Ministry statement is an early step in Pakatan Harapan (PH), particularly DAP, challenging the existence of the Sedition Act.
Umno’s strategic communications unit said there was a strong push from members of the PH government to have the act repealed.
As such, it said, Lim and DAP seemed to be provoking a reaction by going against the Federal Constitution so as to challenge the validity of the Sedition Act.
Criticising the fact that Lim’s Mandarin statement was labelled a “small mistake” by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the unit said the matter should not be taken lightly as it was a sign that DAP wanted to get rid of the rights of the Bumiputera by turning Malaysia into a republic.
“Indirectly, this will lead to the end of the royal institution. (DAP) will try to use its strength in PH to influence Dr Mahathir to amend the constitution and repeal certain acts.
“These include the Sedition Act, Anti-Fake News Act, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act and Prevention of Terrorism Act. Then there will be a liberal system in place in Malaysia, where lies, slander and seditious statements can be spread without any action being taken (against them),” it said.
The Umno unit was commenting on the use of Mandarin by Lim in a statement released regarding the Tun Razak Exchange issue recently.
Several quarters had questioned the need for the Mandarin statement alongside the Bahasa Melayu and English statements. Under Article 152 of the Constitution, all government business and communications must be in Bahasa Melayu, though English is accepted as it is an international language.
“All mistakes deliberately made by members of the cabinet should be punished so it does not drag on and becomes a provocation, which may threaten peace and harmony. Umno views the matter seriously and urges Dr Mahathir and his cabinet to take a close look at such matters so as to ensure national harmony and that it is not repeated.
“Perhaps this issue was used by DAP merely to ‘test the waters’. Without stern action from the prime minister, there is a worry that other ministries will begin using Mandarin in official statements, especially those ministries led by DAP members,” the unit said.
Umno, however, said Dr Mahathir seemed to be more inclined to accept whatever DAP pushed for, especially when it came to the repeal of certain acts, the result of which would allow the party leadership to do whatever it pleased to further its political aims.
“Even the rights of the palace are being questioned now. This will lead to the Malays becoming angry and the dissatisfaction of the palace. It was an insult to question the amount spent by on the needs of the palace, so much so that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong cancelled his Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house.
“Yet, Dr Mahathir and the PH government did not care. To them, the royal institution is dead and need not be bothered with,” it said.
The unit said what DAP was pushing for now was similar to a “neighbouring republic” which the party dreamed of modelling Malaysia after.
“Using the model of this neighbouring republic, DAP leaders are greedily pushing through the party’s agenda, so much so that Dr Mahathir is finding them difficult to control.”