Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong of DAP has accused two MPs from PAS of engaging in “cheap political theatre” over the use of the term “kafir (infidel)” as an insult, especially against non-Muslims.
Khoo questioned the sincerity of Kapar MP Dr Halimah Ali and Pendang MP Awang Hashim in their recent statements condemning the use of the slur.
He said their remarks may be part of their party’s attempt to woo non-Malay voters “at a time when the party is beginning to lose its core base of support”.
Khoo, who is Melaka DAP chief, said Awang himself had referred to another MP as “kafir harbi” during an argument in the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 13.
There was also the removal of a PAS member from Bachok, Kelantan, from the Nenggiri by-election campaign trail last year after reportedly calling DAP “kafir harbi” at a ceramah event.
Khoo said: “Since the formation of the unity government in 2022, many PAS leaders have also made wild claims about their political opponents in attempts to discredit them. Against this backdrop, the statements by Halimah and Awang appear to be nothing more than a display of hypocrisy aimed at projecting an image of so-called ‘tolerance’.”
Earlier today, Halimah said PAS, as a principled party aspiring to represent Malaysians of various backgrounds, must understand the sensitivities of the electorate it wants to woo. Awang agreed that the term could offend some, and said it is proper to use the term “non-Muslim” instead.
