DAP should not “play it safe” when it comes to issues affecting Malays, as otherwise, it will not expand beyond its Chinese support base, said a Malay leader in the party.

Zaid Ibrahim, who joined DAP last February, said the Chinese-majority opposition party leaders must not be “selective” in engaging voters on issues if they sought to gain Malay support.

“They have to speak about the problems facing Malays, too,” the former law minister told The Malaysian Insight.

“I think the problem in this country is that when it comes to Malay or Islamic issues, the Chinese are reluctant to speak because people will say: ‘Oh, why did you get involved?’

“But if you don’t talk about the issues affecting Malays, then you do not relate to Malay problems. Then, it looks like you don’t care about them,” said the former Kota Baru MP.

Zaid brought up a personal experience, involving a public spat with Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah last month.

“Some people would rather keep what they have and play safe. For example, the Selangor ruler issue. That was not a Malay issue. It was a constitutional issue. Not a Malay issue.

“But if DAP feels that it’s better to play it safe because of the election, because you don’t want to upset people, then you will never be part of the Malay community, because you pick and choose what you want to defend. I think we should defend all Malaysians.”

In an interview with The Star on December 5, Sultan Sharafuddin, who is of Bugis descent, said he was upset by Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s use of the term “Bugis pirate” in his attacks against Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The following day, Zaid tweeted that the Selangor ruler should be “careful with his words” and that “no one is immune when the country burns”.

On the sidelines of the Umno annual general meeting a day later, Red Shirts leader Jamal Md Yunos threatened to take a hammer to Zaid’s head if no action was taken over the latter’s criticism of the sultan.

On the same day, DAP publicity chief Tony Pua said Zaid must take responsibility for his comments.

Jamal was subsequently arrested, but has yet to be charged.

In the following days, DAP leaders made courtesy calls to Zaid to show their support.

Asked if he felt isolated during that period, Zaid said: “No. Whenever you take a position, you won’t feel isolated. You feel disappointed that there are not enough people to stand up. But that’s all. The fed-up feeling lasted just one week.”

Asked if DAP could change the public perception that it was “anti-Malay”, the former minister said: “DAP can do many things. It’s up to the leaders to decide. I don’t want to pretend that I know DAP better than its leaders.”

He called on people to get to know the party better and judge it on its record.

“I think we should judge people by their actions. Not by what they say. So, DAP, too, must be judged by its actions. Has it done enough?

“Malays, too, shouldn’t judge based on what other people say. You should get to know DAP. You should get to know the Chinese better. Then, you can decide.

“You cannot make general statements. Malays think that it’s not fair and that DAP is anti-Malay. If you joined DAP and mixed around with its members, then there is some basis for making such statements.

“Likewise, DAP, too, cannot say, ‘Oh, Malays don’t want to join us’, unless the party has gone all out to explain to the people.

“You must judge by what others do, and vice-versa.”

Zaid resigned from the cabinet of former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2008 to protest against Internal Security Act arrests. He joined PKR the following year, before resigning in 2012 amid party infighting.

Out of its 36 MPs, DAP has two Malay parliamentarians: Raub lawmaker Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz and Bukit Bendera’s Zairil Khir Johari. – January 4, 2018.