DAP central executive committee member Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said Badrul Hisham Shaharin was questioning Kumar’s appointment based purely on his ethnicity, which risked destroying national unity.
“This shows that Badrul (also known as Chegubard) does not appreciate the service and contributions of non-Malays in our country,” the former Paloh assemblyman said in a Facebook post.
Sheikh Umar said Malaysians of various races, religions and cultures had built up the country to where it is now, attaining unity, stability and development.
He added that the Federal Constitution provided all citizens with the opportunity to serve the country, while posts in the civil service – including the police force – should be filled based on merit.
“Linking such appointments to narrow-minded racial fear-mongering will only invite division and set the country back.
“We must not allow any room for this attitude displayed by Badrul to take root in our beloved country. Enough with divisive and hateful politics,” he said.
Kumar officially took over as federal CID chief on Aug 8, replacing Shuhaily Zain who was transferred to lead the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency.
On Aug 12, Badrul posted a “delayed” congratulatory post to Kumar on his appointment, saying “this shows that Malaysia has started to embrace” the “Malaysian Malaysia” concept.
The Port Dickson Bersatu chief also cited the promotion of Johnny Lim as a lieutenant-general in the armed forces.
The concept has been closely associated with DAP and its leaders since its founding in 1966, envisioning “a Malaysia in which all Malaysians, regardless of race, language or religion, share equally in the opportunities of life”.
Badrul offered his “congratulations” on the wider embrace of this concept under the present government, noting that Umno had strongly opposed it in the past.
He also said that if the concept continued to be accepted by the government, Malaysia could soon have its first non-Bumiputera chief justice, armed forces chief and inspector-general of police.
“Soon we may even be able to see a non-Bumiputera prime minister. What’s wrong with that if the person is good for the nation’s development?” he said in his post.
FMT has reached out to Kumar and top cop Khalid Ismail for comment.