Wanita MCA Sabah – DAP’s hypocritical stand against sexual & racial harassment & ratifying ICERD is disappointing

Wanita MCA Sabah fails to comprehend the two-faced game that DAP is dicing with via its Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng. After lodging a police report against Edi Rejang following the latter’s spewing of racist profanities against an innocent Carlsberg promoter, Lim has chosen to be valiant when Edi Rejang agreed to publicly apologise to the lass and the Malaysian public for his bigotry. As a lawyer, Lim ought to know that the due process and the rule of law must be upheld in order that others like Edi Rejang will be reminded of the laws of the land.  

Edi's lewd vulgarities and gestures towards the young lady are viewed by so many as an open confrontation against all Malaysians who do not profess the same faith or values. Wanita MCA Sabah would have expected YB Lim to be consistent in his stand, rather than turning his back against the victim by allegedly providing legal or other assistance to the provocateur, after having earlier vigilantly lodged a police report on the incident.

The duo may like to play act that there is a fairy tale ending to this incident disregarding that such racial intimidation or harassment occurs much more frequently than we care to admit. This incident which fortunately caught the wrath of netizens is a huge wake up call to the Government that there is much that needs to be done to address our society’s up-bringing and social etiquette grooming, so as to curb racism.

Aside from getting an apology from the offender (dubious in sincerity as it came only after public outrage and backlash), will there be any follow up such as to a deeper understanding of why he did it in the first place and what can the government do to intervene and prevent such pre-meditated racial intimidation from occurring in the future? Hence, what are the government’s short and long term strategic plans for nation building and unity as well as their racial equity action plans for healing and reconciliation?

Ratifying ICERD

These are most pertinent considerations in view of the impending ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). Since ICERD has been thrown into the boxing ring by the government, various news reports from around the country show relationships amongst the races as somewhat strained.  

It is all fancy pansy and very populist to shout out that Malaysia Baru intends to ratify the ICERD. That is most noble. I am enticed too to be honest but I can see the start of hairline cracks of our social harmony and hints of the hydra-headed monster of racial tension and hate rearing its many heads more and more often of late.

 The key concern, and real purpose of this article is the now deafening silence of those DAP leaders who once stamped their feet for equality, sold the idea to the people (to their electoral success) and roared the war cry demanding for a Malaysian Malaysia.

Where are they now when it's the opportune time to deliver and make good the sales pitch? Where are the DAP champions who professed that all children born in Malaysia should be classified under one term being ‘Anak Malaysia’? Where are the DAP elitists who professed the Setapak Declaration which affirms DAP’s viewpoint that in the process of nation-building, ethnic equality must be made the paramount principle? After all it is upon these principles that the DAP is so opposed to the separation of citizens into “Bumiputra” and “non- Bumiputra”.

Perhaps in their haste and enthusiasm to be seen as liberals, they really have gone and opened Pandora's box, without much thought or planning. My assessment is in their haste to gain traction and to be accepted as the New Malaysia Government they failed to grasp the uniqueness and intricacies of the Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia. As rash and brazen as they are, they forsake the history and legacy of how multiracial Malaysia was formed. They failed in their haste to apply the necessary due diligence and prudence, and so now they are unsure as to how to shut the lid on that box. Do they forge forward offending their political allies and supporters who are largely multi-religious and multiracial? Or do they forsake their supporters and effectively backtrack on this noble quest of theirs? I for one have my own assumptions, judging from their deep silence in the media on the topic of ICERD. They have bitten off more than they can chew and now, based on their recent media statement, leave it in the good hands of the Prime Minister to sort out.

In summary I must say DAP needs to buck up and live up to being the government of the day. Stop trying to be overly populist and start acting responsibly. And yes, while ratifying to something as significant as ICERD is momentous, I would think the people would rather see pragmatic real life implementations of policies that would improve and bring to par their socio-economic standing, than to see the desecration of our constitution.

Dr Pamela Yong
Wanita MCA Sabah Chairman
MCA Central Committee Member

-MCA online-