THE online attacks on DAP, especially on party leader Lim Kit Siang, are not perpetrated on the orders of Umno leaders, including former party president Najib Razak, said pro-opposition bloggers.

The bloggers, who call themselves social media activists, denied they were targeting DAP because it was a Chinese-majority party but because of its persistent questioning of Malay special rights and privileges.

Blogger Zakhir Mohamed said the Umno Malays were not anti-Chinese but they would react when they were challenged and when attempts were made to erode their rights.

“Umno members or the Malays are reactive, not antagonists who will spark an issue,” he said.

Zakhir, who is known as “Big Dog”, said Najib has never given the bloggers a directive to attack DAP.

“If Lim Kit Siang is attacked, it would be due to his actions, his fiery rhetoric here and there.”

Lim had earlier said Umno cybertroopers had launched an online war on DAP on the orders of the former prime minister in the hope of bringing down the Pakatan Harapan government.

Zaharin Mohd Yassin, another pro-Umno blogger known as “Sang Kelembai”, also denied Najib was behind the attacks.

He said the attacks on DAP were aimed at eroding the trust of the Malays in Pakatan Harapan, which is made up of DAP, PKR, Bersatu and Amanah.

“Najib never instructed us. We are attacking DAP because the party is a pillar of PH.

“To attack Amanah is a waste time, to do the same to Bersatu would have no meaning at all. The same goes for PKR,” said Zaharin.

He said the bloggers had “succeeded” in sowing doubt and resentment in the minds of Malay voters towards PH.

“The Malays have started to distance themselves from Bersatu when they see (Bersatu chairman) Dr Mahathir Mohamad following DAP’s lead,” he said.

Lim said he had seen WhatsApp messages between Najib and Umno’s cyberwar headquarters, ordering cybertroopers to continue attacking DAP in a bid to rustle up support for Najib, who is facing jail time over charges he embezzled state funds.

Political observer and writer Ab Jalil Backer Lim’s allegations were a “diversion” from criticisms, including his recent backing out of a debate with Najib .

Jalil said Lim was desperate to divert the national discourse if he was using a screenshot of WhatsApp chatter to prove his claim

He said Lim should accept the fact that anger at the government was growing and could not be dismissed as a fabricated movement.

“DAP and the government are facing the anger of the people. Kit Siang himself became the butt of a joke when he called off his debate with Najib after he himself had set the debate topic and rules.

“To downplay the anger and criticism of the people, Najib was made a bogeyman.

“(But) with his bank accounts all frozen, property transactions also on ice and the loss of many wealthy business friends, it is also quite impossible for Najib to finance any massive campaign as alleged by Kit Siang,” he said. – May 26, 2019.