Chong: Umno playing politics of fear to stay in power
Sarawak DAP leader says PM is fanning racial sentiments to win votes and may tear apart the foundation of secular Malaysia in the process.
KUCHING: Sarawak DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen has condemned Umno, saying the statements made by Prime Minister Najib Razak and Umno members during their party’s general assembly this past week, risks fanning racial and religious sentiments nationwide.
Addressing its members at the assembly, Najib warned that if the DAP ever came to power, the Malays would lose their rights.
“We pledge to fight to the end and to the last drop of blood, even if our lives are lost,” Najib had said.
The prime minister also repeated his support to amend Act 355, which will empower shariah courts to enforce harsher Islamic penalties.
During a dialogue session with voters yesterday, Chong said the DAP had been wrongly made the scapegoat by Umno.
He also accused Najib of fostering an atmosphere of fear in the country.
“Now DAP suddenly becomes the No 1 enemy of Umno. Umno is fanning racial sentiments. They are telling the Malays that the choice is between DAP and Umno,” Chong said.
Chong added that Najib’s courting of the Act 355 bill, which was initially proposed by PAS president Hadi Awang, will harm the country’s secular foundation.
“He wants to play the hudud law issue to its maximum. He doesn’t care whether this will divide all the people in the whole country.
“He doesn’t care this will destroy the foundation upon which Malaysia is formed. The foundation on which Sarawak has agreed to form Malaysia. He doesn’t care, as long as he gets more votes,” Chong said, calling on voters to reject racial politics, corruption and “Najib’s politics of fear.”
“I am telling all Malaysians, the choice is not about Umno or Malaysia. The choice is about the politics of hope and the politics of fear.
“Politics of good and clean governance versus the political racist sentiments of the Barisan Nasional.
“This is the choice that we are going to make in the coming general election,” Chong said.
Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram
The 14th general election is due by June 2018, although it is widely expected to be held next year.