By Rahmah Ghazali
KUALA LUMPUR: PAS today slammed a government-linked company’s involvement in a “narrow-minded” and “extreme” May 13 programme to commomerate 41 years of the bloody incident in Kuala Terengganu this Thursday.
PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said as a government body, the Terengganu Integrity Institute should not be involved in such programme.
Organised by a Malay movement called Gerakan Kebangkitan Rakyat (Gertak), the programme carries the tagline ‘Melayu Bangkit’.
It aims to gather 10,000 Malays to discuss the New Economic Policy (NEP), Vision 2020 and how to reunite the Malays.
Salahuddin also said that Gertak president Razali Idris, who is a Marang Umno deputy chief, had no business or the jurisdiction to use a government platform to hold the programme,
The May 13 incident recalls the racial riots between the Malays and the Chinese that led to a declaration of a state of national emergency and suspension of parliament in 1969.
Officially, 196 people were killed between May 13 and July 31 as a result of the riots.
According to Salahuddin, it would be unfortunate if the programme, which coincided with the May 13 anniversary, is used to stir up the spirit of the Malays.
“It is okay to talk about the issues of NEP, but it is wrong if the (Gertak) president uses the May 13 incident to uplift the spirit of the Malays,” he said.
Meanwhile, secretary-general Mustapha Ali questioned former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s attendance as a guest of honour at the programme.
“He was the main controversial player in the racial riots 41 years ago. So is he going to resurrect the ghosts of May 13 and revive the spectre of racial strife?” asked Mustapha.
Mustapha said he had informed the Terengganu chief of police officer about the programme, who according to him, has also expressed concern.
“I have also contacted the Malaysian Integrity Instititue president Mohd Tap Salleh and he said he too, was given an invite. But he said he is not attending the programme,” he said.
“We talked about racial harmony and 1Malaysia. This programme defeats the purpose. I hope it would be cancelled so as to respect the sensitivity of all Malaysians,” he said.
‘Umno is behind this’
Pointing the finger at Umno for being behind the programme, Salahuddin said the party is now ‘desperate’ to use ‘narrow-minded, racist’ strategies for their party’s survival.
“It is time people saw the true colours of Umno which is out to disrupt the nation’s harmony for its narrow political interests ,” said the Kubang Kerian MP.
He also said that it was Umno that was always stirring up such racial issues.
“Other political parties never bring up racial issues. Every year, whenever Umno brings up any issue, it will have to do with the race.
“When we governned Kelantan then (on May 13), there was not a drop of blood shed by the Chinese. We are not extremists or racists (like them),” said Salahuddin.
Meanwhile, Mustapha said that an attandence of about 10,000 people should not be a yardstick to claim success of the programme.
“If they think a gathering 10,000 can be considered a success, think again. If they are all Umno members, it’s not something to crow about.
“Besides, 10,000 is not a huge number where Terengganu is concerned. Even a gathering 50,000 is nothing,” said Mustapha.
Zaid too slams planned rally
In a related development, PKR supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim also slammed the plan to organise the rally in Kuala Terengganu.
He said that the planned rally must be stopped and urged the prime minister to act immediately.
“PM Najib (Tun Razak) must act to stop this irresponsible and dangerous action. Nothing useful will come out of such provocation other than spewing hate and threatening peace and stability.
“I welcome PAS’ decisive action to condemn the rally and lets hope the Malays will heed the call for them not to participate,” he told FMT today.
He said that the Malays can seek whatever redress for their grievances from the BN government.
“This is the same government that has governed them since Merdeka. There is absolutely no reason to blame anyone else,” he said.
He also said that “the voters in Sibu will hopefully see for themselves this behaviour of Umno-led government and punish the PM for allowing this to happen”
