UMNO Youth Penang has urged leaders from Democratic Action Party to stop issuing provocative statements that could hurt the feelings of the Malay community and threaten racial harmony in the country.
Its chief, Mohd Hilmi Elias, said several DAP leaders had recently appeared to be competing in making controversial remarks that sparked unease among the public, especially Malays.
He said DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng should reflect on his own party before accusing others of racism, claiming that DAP itself often featured leaders making provocative statements.
The remarks came after Guan Eng labelled former UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and UMNO as “fake progressives” following Khairy’s defence of Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh’s political approach within the party.
Guan Eng reportedly said Khairy appeared to accept the reasoning that UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi allowed Akmal’s approach due to political pressure from right-wing rivals, particularly Perikatan Nasional.
Meanwhile, Mohd Hilmi also criticised recent comments by DAP disciplinary committee chairman Tony Pua, which were seen as a response to a decree by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah urging DAP leaders to relearn the Rukun Negara.
According to Mohd Hilmi, the incident showed that some DAP leaders still failed to understand the sensitivities of Malaysia’s multiracial society.
“Any statement that can be interpreted as challenging fundamental matters within the Federal Constitution is not only immature but could also trigger racial tensions if not handled carefully,” he said.
He stressed that issues involving the royal institution, the Federal Constitution, Islam and the rights of Malays and Bumiputera must be approached cautiously to preserve national unity.
Mohd Hilmi added that Penang UMNO Youth is urging DAP to advise its leaders to be more responsible and measured in issuing public statements to avoid polemics that could affect harmony among Malaysia’s multiracial communities.
Earlier, Tony Pua reportedly said Malaysia practises a constitutional monarchy system where royal powers are limited to specific matters such as Malay customs, Islam and constitutional roles including the appointment of a Menteri Besar and consent for the dissolution of state assemblies.
He also said Malaysians do not live in a system where royal decrees govern every aspect of public life.
