THE National Patriots Association (Patriot) is right in saying that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government was late to react over the campaign to boycott non-Muslim products, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

In a statement, Lim, who is also DAP secretary general, said Putrajaya only realised the campaign’s threat to social harmony after it gained public traction following racial and extremist sentiments played up by Umno and PAS.

“Patriot is correct that the PH government did not come out early to oppose the campaign to that is undertaken by several opposition-leaning NGOs.

“Only after the boycott campaign was openly and publicly supported by top Umno and PAS leaders, did PH see the potential danger to national unity, diversity and religious harmony.”

Yesterday, Patriot president Brigadier-General (rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji branded the boycott campaign as “nonsensical, irrational, idiotic and disruptive”.

Arshad hit out at Pakatan Harapan for “not doing enough” to put a stop to the campaign.

“Cabinet members seem to be waiting for the prime minister’s cue to act. It’s either they do not have a mind of their own, or are not principled enough.”

“DAP agrees with Patriot that we must all think as Malaysians,” said Lim.

Lim then took a swipe at MCA and MIC for not raising objection to the boycott.

“It is regrettable is that there are non-Muslim or non-Bumiputera political parties like MCA or MIC, who shamelessly debase themselves by continuing their political co-operation with PAS and Umno.

“So far, they have not even dared to raise their objections directly to their political masters in PAS and Umno, displaying the difference between the consensus-driven approach through active engagement and discussion in PH and the unilateral diktats of the new coalition under PAS and Umno.”

Several right-wing Muslim groups have openly declared a campaign to boycott non-Muslim products but changed its tune to buy Muslim first after heavy public criticism.

Umno and PAS justified the campaign, saying that the “buy Muslim first” slogan has no racist undertones.

It was also reported that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had asked those responsible to cease their movement.

A statement by the cabinet days ago said such a boycott would only jeopardise national unity and urged the public to buy Malaysian products and services instead. – September 9, 2019.