Karpal not right in calling to deregister religion-based parties, says PAS
PAS has spoken out against the call by DAP chairman Karpal Singh yesterday to disallow bodies operating along racial and religious lines.
The party's information chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (pic), describing the proposal as dangerous and unfounded, hit out at the veteran lawyer for failing to understand PAS's struggle.
"What is the danger of PAS to multi-racial Malaysia?
"People should evaluate for themselves how PAS has ruled Kelantan for over 23 years, Terengganu in 1999 and Kedah in 2008 in promoting racial unity and protecting the rights of both the Muslim and non-Muslim people. Were there any non-Muslim who was sidelined?” he asked in a statement today.
He was commenting on Karpal's statement yesterday slamming the Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) for its criticism of the Bar Council.
Karpal said professional bodies set up based on religion or race, such as the MLA, should be de-registered.
Karpal also urged the Bar to lodge a police report against MLA for threatening it not to side with Catholic weekly Herald in its appeal on the October 14 Allah ruling.
According to Karpal, the time had come for all racial and religious political parties and professional organisations which operate along racial and religious lines to be de-registered.
"Unfortunately, this also includes PAS. We have to be practical because if we want a united country we need parties that are multi-racial," Karpal had said, while noting that PAS was DAP's partner in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
"Ban all racial political parties in the country. What is the problem?" said Karpal, who said such parties were a setback to the country's unity.
Tuan Ibrahim said the statement should not be coming from a PR leader at a time the public was rejecting Barisan Nasional.PR.
"He should have been more wise and not come out with a statement that can affect the good relations in Pakatan Rakyat and the people's support. This type of statement also does not benefit DAP," he said.
PAS, said Tuan Ibrahim, would leave it to DAP to deal with Karpal over the statement. - November 6, 2013.
