Johor DAP chairman Boo Cheng Hau denounced UMNO for racism over the 1Melayu, 1Bumi movement proposed by party newspaper Utusan to prevent the Chinese from toppling the Malays' political dominance after the DAP swept an unprecedented 12 seats in the recently concluded Sarawak state elections.
"It is obvious that UMNO is behind "Satu Melayu Satu Bumi" and "Satu Kaum Satu Agama" racial agenda to split Malaysians. It is an attempt to consolidate its Malay grounds hoping that it would rely on Malays' support alone to win the 13th General Elections," Boo said in a statement to the media on Monday.
Boo said the Utusan slogan was similar to the one made by Rengit assemblyman Ayob Jamil at the Johor Legislative Assembly last year asking PAS to unite with PAS for "Satu Kaum, Satu Agama".
"But while YB Ayob Jamil talked about Satu Kaum Satu Agama, a ceramah at a PAS markaz was stopped by FRU with release of tear gas in Rengit last year in the presence of Datuk Mahfuz, Datuk Chua Jui Meng and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim," said Boo.
Racial propaganda
He urged the Malays not to believe in UMNO's racial propaganda as the party had actually victimised its political opponents, even though they were of the same race such as PAS and PKR leaders.
"UMNO has systemically smeared DAP as a Chinese party despite the fact that we have a substantial percentage of Indian members and an increasing number of Malays and East Malaysian natives members. We use Bahasa Malaysia, English, Tamil and Mandarin in documentations and speeches, as compared to the race-based MCA," said Boo.
He stuck to his party's stand that DAP had derived multiracial support at the Sarawak polls.
"Even though DAP won 12 out of 15 seats contested during the last Sarawak State Elections, 4 constituencies won by DAP are Iban majority seats. According to studies, Sarawak natives support towards Pakatan Rakyat has increased tremendously," he said.
Boo also urged the Malay community not to be blinded by the racial slurs and scare tactics of UMNO, but to be brave in its support of PAS, PKR and DAP.
"DAP cannot bring changes alone but together with PAS and PKR. To ensure Pakatan Rakyat can rule Putrajaya is to ensure PR win big in Malay majority constituencies," said Boo.
- Malaysia Chronicle
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