Speaking in Kuala Krai, in Kelantan, last night on the last leg of his “Jelajah Desa bersama Lim Kit Siang di Pantai Timur” roadshow, the DAP supremo said most of the people in the three east coast states of Terengganu, Pahang and Kelantan had not fallen for Umno’s tactics.
“The lies and falsehoods which form the core of the Umno demonisation campaign against me and DAP leaders, painting us as anti-Malay and anti-Islam, do not have any traction here.
“The majority of Malays and Muslims are not so stupid and irrational as to succumb to the lies, fake news and false information pumped out by the Umno propaganda machinery,” Lim said.
He added that the ordinary Malays he had encountered in his other Kelantan stops – Pasir Puteh, Ketereh and Machang – showed the ordinary Malays accepting the DAP entourage with a lot of goodwill and kindness.
“There was not a single trace of suspicion, distrust, hate or malice towards me. I don’t think that would be the case if they had believed all that had been said against me before.
“In fact, my warong visits have vindicated and fortified my belief that ordinary Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans, whether Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus or Sikhs do not want or support extremism in whatever form,” he said, warning of the extremist forces seeking to establish a beachhead in our society.
Lim, who is Gelang Patah MP, also referred to the recent incidents of intolerance and extremism which included the demand for non-Muslims not to participate in the breaking-of-fast during Ramadan and the harassment and “thuggish” behaviour by some Muslims who prevented DAP’s Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong and Pakatan Harapan representatives from distributing dates at a Ramadan bazaar in the Johor town last month.
“Malaysia must set an example of moderation to the world – as we must not preach the wasatiyyah principles of moderation, justice, balance and excellence in international platforms but fail to spread the same message among our people in the country.
“Malaysia can only survive and prosper as a united, harmonious, democratic, progressive and prosperous nation if Malaysians develop a zero tolerance for extremism or fanaticism in whatever form,” Lim said.