Hu slams Karpal over call to deregister religion-based parties

(The Star) – DAP chairman Karpal Singh continues to receive criticism over his call early this week for race and religion-based political organisations to be deregistered.

The latest criticism came from PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw who told the Bukit Gelugor MP to put his party in order first before trying to pick faults with others.

Hu said Karpal’s view was outdated as although PAS was an Islamist party, it was in the process of changing to become more inclusive in allowing non-Muslims to join the party.

He said Karpal should not have questioned PAS’ sincerity in trying to attract non-Muslims into its folds.

“Although for the past 56 years PAS has remained as a conservative Islamist party, it is now making drastic changes to its set up by allowing non-Muslims to join in their struggle, albeit not as full-fledged members yet.

“In comparison, the DAP, which has always claimed to be a multi-racial party since its inception, its non-Chinese members is still less than 10%,” he said.

Hu said although the congress was only set up in 2009, PAS had decided to absorb it into the party despite its many detractors.

“This speaks volume for PAS’ sincerity in reaching out to the multi-racial society,” he added.

He said as a fellow leader in Pakatan Rakyat, Karpal should understand that it took time for PAS to make changes and the fact it had done so within the short span of three years showed that it was truly trying hard towards becoming a multi-racial party.

Meanwhile in George Town, Karpal said DAP was not worried that PAS might take up a “peace offering” to join forces with Umno for the sake of Malay unity.

“PAS is strong enough to resist any peace overtures from Umno.

“We in Pakatan remain focused in an effort to dethrone Barisan Nasional’s rule in the country,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Karpal was responding to a news report, which quoted Penang Umno Information head Shahbudin Yahya as calling for a special body to be formed to study the grassroots view on the possible merger between the party and PAS.

Shahbudin was reported as saying that it was important to gauge the grassroots’ view on the matter before a more serious effort could be taken towards making it a reality.

Karpal said DAP did not feel threatened by Shahbuddin’s proposal and considered it as Umno’s strategy to divide Pakatan.