PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has taken another swipe at DAP, alleging its existence is to divide a harmonious, multiracial society.

The Marang lawmaker said DAP, which was established after the country achieved independence, tried to replace MCA and the MIC, which were founded before independence.

“DAP, which was formed later, tried to destroy the relationship of the plural society that had established itself in harmony without the coercion of being Islam,” Hadi said in a statement posted to Facebook.

Hadi alleged DAP’s “Malaysian Malaysia” agenda and the principle of secularism, which separates religion from politics, economics and other aspects, is an effort to unravel that which is already well established.

“Perhaps the younger generation among the Chinese and Indians did not notice this incongruous step because most of them were born after independence,” he said.

“The reason? To try and portray the Malays as racist. Malays are the least racist as they were forced by the colonials to accept jus soli (birthright citizenship) as a condition of independence by accepting immigrants from the Chinese and Indian races as citizens.

“However, the influence of Islam among Malays makes them accept the existence of other races. This can be seen how non-Muslims, like Chinese and Indians, are free to do business, farm and practise their own faiths, use their own languages and even have their own vernacular schools,” Hadi said.

He said DAP took on the “Malaysian Malaysia” approach, touted by the late Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew in the early 1960s through the Malaysian Solidarity Convention, was to protest article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which provides various special rights to Malays and Bumiputers.

“They believe non-Malays, who were granted citizenship, are also entitled to the same privileges as the Malays and Bumiputeras.

“In other words, all races, languages, religions and cultures are the same. DAP continued the ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ concept even after Singapore left Malaysia in 1965,” he said.

Hadi said non-Muslims should be grateful they were allowed to stay in the country.

“They must accept the fact that most countries in the world do not give place to anyone not of original citizenship and who does not adhere to the (host) country’s ideology, but Islam gives fair rights to non-Muslims who do not adhere to Islam as the national religion.

“The position of Islam … cannot be challenged arbitrarily. In fact, the tolerance shown to them (non-Malays) should be respected.

“The concept of secularism and ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ can trigger racial and religious tensions.

“There was tension in Singapore when the concept was first introduced. Malaysia also once experienced such an event on May 13, 1969, which became a black history in the country’s multiracial society.

“Such an event should not be repeated again with the wrong agenda,” he said.

Earlier last year, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said DAP has provided guarantees to accept and comply with four articles enshrined in the Federal Constitution, including on the position of Islam and Malays’ special rights. – June 7, 2023.