“Thinking of Dear Uncle Karpal” makes Kasthuri cry, why? (Tanjak.my 4 April 2017)

The hypocrisy of the Dapsters is slowly coming undone. They act as if they care for their Malay voters but don’t fall for the act just yet. What they care about is GE14 votes.

This is apparent when you look at the inconsistent way DAP politicians and their supporters react to issues involving Islam that do not even concern them.

Remember Karpal’s “Over my dead body”?

Is Kasthuri Patto being hypocritical? Take the tabling of RUU355 for example.

Yesterday the snowflake from Batu Kawan took to her Facebook to reminisce what would it be like if Karpal Singh were still alive. Her Facebook post was alluding to the parliamentary proceeding during the time RUU355 was being tabled.

KASTHURI PATTO: “TO THE LEADERS OF [PAS], I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY TO SEE MALAYSIANS SPLIT RIGHT DOWN TO THE MIDDLE.”

In the tabling of RUU355, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang called on non-Muslim MPs to vote with conscience, urging them to respect the voice of their Muslim constituencies while putting aside their own personal religious bias.

There was no brouhaha back in 1965 when the 355 bill was first tabled to be made into law, according to Hadi who is also the Marang MP (video below).

Many notable non-Muslim politicians, including Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew – note: that time our two countries were still one – were present in the Dewan and did not object, said Hadi.

In fact, the 355 bill was passed without a vote because it was wholly accepted as beneficial to the Muslim population, he explained.

DAP trying to portray themselves as ‘the good guys’

Unlike “the bad guys” MCA who have been consistently outspoken against RUU355.

Following the reading of Hadi’s motion in parliament yesterday, PAS’s Kota Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan (video below) stood up to deliver his speech of support.

In his blow-by-blow historical narrative of the RUU355 chronology, Takiyuddin even read out a list of the names of non-Muslims MPs at the parliament sitting when the 1965 bill was moved.

He additionally named the non-Muslim MPs who raised no objection when Act 355 was tabled in 1984 for amendment to expand its jurisdiction.

If the non-Muslim MPs named by Takiyuddin could accept the laws relating to Muslim matters in 1965 and 1984, why can’t they now?

KASTHURI PATTO: “MY EYES ARE WET NOW THINKING OF DEAR UNCLE KARPAL SINGH. OH HOW WE MISS YOU MORE THAN EVER NOW.”

So coming back the present day, what would Karpal Singh do, Batu Kawan?

Nothing.

Karpal Singh was there during the parliament sitting in his capacity as the Honorable Member for Jelutong when the 1984 amendments were put forward. He did not object nor did he debate the bill.

Note Kasthuri’s declaration above in her Facebook today that neither she – as a Penang DAP Parliamentarian – nor her party members “are a threat to strengthening Syariah courts”.

Going by Kasthuri’s ambivalent disclaimer, you will have to take it that unlike MCA, the DAP are obviously hedging their bets. It seems uncertain whether the evangelical party will definitely be voting against RUU355.

A case of appearances are deceiving or politics is the art of the possible. The DAP chameleons are still role-playing at being Islam-friendly.

Non Muslim hijab-wearing politicians fish Malay votes

Recently in his article, Dr M. Bakri Musa (pix above) opined that non-Muslim politicians have been using Muslim costume as a prop to gain political capital.

Dr Bakri wrote in his blog:

“For non-Muslim politicians, embracing pro-Islam postures would be a sure way into the hearts of Malays and capturing their votes. Those politicians would become instant darlings of the Malay community, fast eclipsing the likes of that mualaf Ridhaun Tee, and without having to change your name or religion. You don’t have to suck up to Umno or PAS politicians either! All you have to do is don white kopiah (or hijab, for a woman) at Muslim functions, and of course support RUU355 and similar legislations.”

This method has been used as cheap tactic ever since the new wave evangelical politicians made their bid for power in the 2008 election.

A few exceptional non-Malay politicians had earlier utilized Malay apparel to win the heart of the rural crowd. Think that famous historical photograph of Lee Kuan Yew wearing songkok on his campaign stump through the kampung areas.

However for the non-Muslim politician to wear the Muslim attire (in Malaysian context) of hijab in order to “become instant darlings of the Malay community” is taking things one step further, as highlighted by Dr Bakri.

Let’s be honest for once

Hadi Awang appealed to non-Muslim MPs to respect the wishes of their Muslim constituents as well as to vote according to conscience.

His injunction poses a dilemma to the MCA parliamentarians who represent Malay-majority areas but whose party represents Chinese interests.

But what about the DAP parliamentarians who represent hardcore Chinese-majority areas and whose party represents Lim dynasty interests?

Take Kasthuri’s seat of Batu Kawan where Malays form only 20.1 percent of the electorate. Batu Kawan is a Chinese-majority area with a sizeable segment of Indians.

So far, Kasthuri’s statements on RUU355 have been overly melodramatic but highly ambiguous at the same time. When push comes to shove, will she and her DAP colleagues vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’?

Will they continue telling different stories to their various audiences, saying one thing to the Malays whose vote they’re chasing and another thing to their non-Malay base?

Or will Kasthuri chicken out by abstaining or better yet, absent herself from parliament when the RUU355 vote is taken?

The hypocrisy of the Dapsters is slowly coming undone. Their true colours will show sooner than later.

*Fatihah Jamhari is a lawyer and activist

*First appeared in Tanjak.my on Apr 4, 2017 with amendments from the Editor.