'DAP needs to be more sensitive to dispel Malay community's misunderstanding'
Gabungan Reformis Malaysia (GRM) has advised DAP to be more sensitive towards the Malay community as there is a lot of misunderstanding from the community towards non-Malays, especially towards the political party.
“As things are today, there is a lot of misunderstandings (happening) from the Malay community towards non-Malays, especially when it comes to DAP.
Gabungan Reformis Malaysia (GRM) has advised DAP to be more sensitive towards the Malay community as there is a lot of misunderstanding from the community towards non-Malays, especially towards the political party.
“As things are today, there is a lot of misunderstandings (happening) from the Malay community towards non-Malays, especially when it comes to DAP.
“...We also call upon our friends in DAP so that they take more care in their statements and their approach so that the Malays (who are) the majority in this country do not feel threatened by the party’s stand,” GRM coordinator Mustaffa Kamil Ayub said in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
He was responding to a question on whether GRM thinks DAP was the biggest weakness in Pakatan Harapan as the party could not be accepted by the Malay community which caused the coalition to fall from power after 22 months.
While Mustaffa said this misunderstanding is just a perception and can be fixed, he said racial sensitivities must be taken into consideration so it does not affect the country negatively as Malaysia is a multi-racial country.
GRM is a new coalition of 10 NGOs, formed a few days ago, consisting of Persatuan Rapat Rakyat (rapat), Pro98 Reformis, Otai Reformis, Jingga 13 Malaysia, Pertubuhan Aktivis Rakyat Malaysia (Arm), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Pahlawan Malaysia (Pahlawan), Gerakan Reformasi Veteran (ATM), Persatuan Media Sosial Malaysia (Permassa), Gerak Aktif Sosioekonomi Amal Kebjajikan (Gasak) and Pertubuhan Gerakan Pejuang Negara Malaysia (GMPN).
Most of these NGOs are known to be strong supporters of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and support him for the position of ninth prime minister.
Mustaffa also said that he is confident in Anwar’s inclusive approach covering all races and religions, while still acknowledging Malays as the core majority race in Malaysia.
“Let us not bring up race and religion sentiments. We respect each other, and we acknowledge the position of Malays as the majority and Islam as the federal religion while other religions can be freely practised in the country.
“If we stand by that principle, which is clear in the constitution, we will not be arguing.
“Do not let Malaysians be carried away by any political parties who are playing up the sentiments of certain groups,” he said.
The Harapan government collapsed in late February when Bersatu quit the coalition and formed the Perikatan Nasional coalition with Umno-BN, PAS, GPS, PBS, Star and several former PKR leaders including the former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.
Throughout their 22-month rule, the Harapan government was plagued by the issue of power transition between former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar as well as the internal rift in PKR between Anwar and Azmin.
Umno and PAS have also consistently accused Harapan of being dominated and controlled by DAP and claimed that many of Harapan’s policies would threaten the position of Malays and bumiputeras in this country.
Harapan leaders have consistently denied these claims.
