Gerakan admits PAS a thorn to Malaysians

 No News Is Bad News

Gerakan brothers with the Taliban-like PAS president Hadi Awang

Gerakan admits PAS a thorn to Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27, 2023: Finally a Gerakan leader from Penang is admitting that the Taliban-like PAS is a thorn to Malaysians.

Oh Tong Keong, who is also party deputy president, said PAS needed to explain policies to non-Malay communities.

“We are aware that policies in PAS-led states stand in the way of Perikatan Nasional (PN) gaining the support of non-Muslims, which is worsened by the perception created by the coalition’s rivals.

“Even though PAS-governed states implement Islamic principles, it does not mean non-Muslims’ rights are denied,”  he added.

What a load of bullshit about not denying the rights (and freedom) of non-Muslims. Why was a businesswoman compounded and fined for wearing shorts in Kelantan?

That is just one of many examples of such encroachments by PAS governments into the rights and freedom of non-Muslim Malaysians.

When Gerakan was in the Barisan Nasional (BN) governments, it was so subserviant to Umno that it was labelled as a political lapdog, just like the MCA.

Umno is so much more tolerant than PAS. So, does anyone believe PAS would give a damn about what Gerakan says?

Gerakan would be more respected if it had gone solo instead of partnering with the PAS-dominated PN.

In Penang, a state which Gerakan governed for more than 20 years is today better off under the DAP-led Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Under BN-Gerakan, both the then Penang Island (MPPP) and Seberang Perai (MBSP) municipal councils were in the red every year, until it could not even provide effective and adequate municipal services.

Penang was then labelled as the Rubbish Bin Of The Orient.

The Sungai Pinang was black , filthy and smelly that marine life could not even survive.

Today, the river is breeding fish and the roads and streets are relatively clean with both the municipalities in the black every year.

Does that not raises questions of Gerakan’s management competency for the state to Penangites?

No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on what Oh was reported to have said:

PAS needs to explain policies to non-Malay community, says Gerakan leader

Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong says even though PAS-governed states implement Islamic principles, it does not mean non-Muslims’ rights are denied.

Faiz Zainudin - 27 Jun 2023, 11:17am

Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong said Perikatan Nasional must ensure its campaign strategies safeguard the feelings of all communities. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Gerakan is aware that policies in PAS-led states stand in the way of Perikatan Nasional gaining the support of non-Muslims, which is worsened by the perception created by the coalition’s rivals.

Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong said this is especially the case in Penang, which has been led by DAP since 2008.

However, he said that even though PAS-governed states implemented Islamic principles, this does not mean that non-Muslims’ rights are denied.

“It needs to be explained to the non-Malay community why they should accept PAS, even more so when policies in states governed by the Islamic party concern non-Muslims.

“PN needs to ensure its campaign strategies safeguard the feelings of all communities,” he told FMT.

Oh, who is also the Penang Gerakan chief, did not go into specifics about PAS’ policies in Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu that are cause for concern for the non-Malay community.

Oh’s statement came before the fiasco caused by Kota Bharu Municipal Council (MPKB) issuing a compound notice to a non-Muslim woman in Kelantan for wearing “indecent clothing”.

Yesterday, it was reported that a 35-year-old business owner was issued a compound notice by the council during a spot check at her shop for wearing a t-shirt and shorts in a public place.

MPKB president Rosnazli Amin was quoted as saying the woman committed an offence under Section 34(2)(b) of the Business and Industrial Trade By-Laws 2019, which states that non-Muslim business owners and their non-Muslim employees must wear “decent clothes”.

Oh said he remains confident that PN can gain support from non-Muslims and Malays in Penang by addressing local issues and highlighting Pakatan Harapan’s failure to fulfil its promises during its 15-year reign in the state.

“The people are disappointed due to the lack of solutions for issues such as traffic congestion, floods, inadequate clean water supply and unaffordable housing. Perhaps we can garner support from those who have lost faith in DAP and PH,” he said.