Zaid: PMX needs to tell (racial and religious bigoted) Umno to stop

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Zaid: PMX needs to tell (racial and religious bigoted) Umno to stop

Update1:

Scholars, ex-civil servants, activists sign up to slam Umno over socks issue

FMT Reporters

-23 Mar 2024, 08:19 PM

Activists from Sabah and Sarawak also signed off on the statement, joining prominent civil society members to take Umno to task.

Among the 21 who signed the statement were lawyer-activist Siti Kasim, political commentator Lim Teck Ghee, and Deva Kunjari, daughter of the late VT Sambanthan.

PETALING JAYA: A statement hitting out at Umno over the party’s stand on the “Allah” socks issue has received the support of 21 more people, including prominent civil society members, former civil servants and academics.

The statement was initially issued by former Umno MP Tawfik Ismail and Tajuddin Rasdi last night, after the Umno Supreme Council said it fully supported the actions of youth wing chief Dr Akmal Saleh regarding the issue.

Akmal has repeatedly called for a boycott of the KK Mart chain, although senior political leaders have urged that the issue not be prolonged.

The 21 individuals who signed off on the statement include academics Teh Yik Koon and Lim Teck Ghee, as well as former civil servants KJ John, Johan Ariffin Samad and ⁠M Santhananaban.

It was also signed by lawyer-activist Siti Kasim, political analyst James Chin, author ES Shankar, activist Anwar Fazal and Deva Kunjari, the daughter of the late VT Sambanthan.

Sarawakian activists Peter John Jaban, Henry Joseph and Robert Saweng, and Sabah activist Remy Majangkim also signed off.

The statement accused Umno of bordering on taking advantage of the “Allah” socks issue to score political points, and urged the public to ignore Akmal’s call to boycott KK Mart.

They also called for all parties to wait for the outcome of investigations into the matter and for the appropriate punishment on those at fault to be decided by the authorities, not Umno.

The controversy began when photographs were circulated on social media showing socks bearing the word “Allah” found at a KK Mart shop in Bandar Sunway.

The factory that supplied the socks has temporarily ceased operations, while KK Mart management has issued an apology over the socks. The company said the goods were supplied on consignment and were produced in China.

Yesterday, the Umno leadership said it fully supported Akmal’s stand on the controversial issue, despite criticism from MCA and DAP over his persistent call for a boycott.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23, 2024: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim says just because one uses God as the basis of one’s actions, that does not justify breaking the law or inciting hatred and asking people to boycott and destroy businesses in the country.

“There must be limits to your anger,”  he added.

No News Is Bad News reproduces below Zaid’s Letter To The Editor of FMT:

Where is the red line?

Letter to the Editor

-23 Mar 2024, 10:44 AM

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim needs to tell Umno there is a red line that they must not cross.

From Zaid Ibrahim

Listen, just because one uses God as the basis of one’s actions, that does not justify breaking the law or inciting hatred and asking people to boycott and destroy businesses in the country.

There must be limits to your anger.

First, you asked the Chinese trader to apologise, and they did. Then, you revoked the factory licence of their supplier, and they are now out of business.

Then you said the boycott would continue. Then, the whole of Umno gave full backing to Umno Youth’s crazy demands.

Then, a few unhappy Chinese youth resorted to Facebook to protest the actions, and you sent them to jail. Of course, you do not send those who defend God to jail, no matter their actions.

At what point will you be satisfied?

This is the moment when the prime minister needs to remind Malays that they need to rule using their head. They have to pass the test of reasonableness.

What if they cannot? Let the others who can rule.

Umno does not seem capable of that.

Bigotry and racist tendencies should not be allowed to rear its head in the disguise of defending religion or God.

The nation has to be protected from fascist ideas, which are already spreading far and wide

It seems to me these voices of madness once again cow the Malay leadership.

Fortunately, we have a sprinkling of Malays like Tajuddin Rasdi, Tawfik Ismail and Siti Kasim, who give me hope that we Malays are not all mad.

But these small voices are not going to save the country.

We were told that Anwar Ibrahim would forever change the political landscape and keep the country on the right path.

I hope so.

In which case, at the right time, he needs to tell Umno there is a red line that they must not cross.

I leave it to the prime minister to decide when to announce and define what constitutes the red line.

But he must stand up to the rampaging Umno. Otherwise, what value is Madani to the people of this country?

Zaid Ibrahim is a former law minister and FMT reader.