No action against Norman Fernandez

DAP’s disciplinary committee chairman says the Johor DAP deputy chief was exercising his freedom of expression.

K Pragalath, FMT

The DAP disciplinary committee will not be taking action against Johor DAP deputy chief Norman Fernandez over his call to reject PAS in the polls on the grounds of freedom of expression.

“He said it on his own personal capacity. It is his personal opinion, not the party’s.

“He is not even a candidate,” said DAP disciplinary committee chairman Tan Kok Wai who is also the incumbent Cheras MP.

Tan said this in response to MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s dare to DAP to act against Fernandez.

Chua said DAP’s inaction would vindicate MCA as Fernandez have been saying the same against PAS.

Chua added that if Fernandez is not expelled, then he is “telling the truth”.

“Coming from a senior DAP leader… It carries a lot of weight. (This means) a vote for DAP is a vote for PAS,” Chua was reported as saying .

In an article published in a blog called Outsyedthebox.com published on Saturday, Fernandez urged the non-Muslims not to vote for PAS who are insisting on the implementation of hudud law and an Islamic state.

“I for one have finally made up my mind, and I am convinced that PAS does not deserve my vote,” he said in the statement titled “Johor cannot gamble and risks its future with PAS”.

Fernandez, a lawyer, described PAS’ repeated pronouncements of its Islamic state and hudud agenda during the election period as “an utter contempt and disregard for the common manifesto of Pakatan Rakyat”.