Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong has called for all component parties of Perikatan Nasional to meet amid tensions between his party and coalition ally PAS.
In a statement, Oh made a distinction between Gerakan joining PN and it joining PN’s component parties.
“Therefore, on any issue, we stick to the party’s (Gerakan) views and stance, and do not necessarily accept the thoughts or actions of the component parties fully and wholly,” he said.
The two alliance partners have been at loggerheads over matters about the role of brewery companies in facilitating fundraising events for Chinese schools.
Before that, they also clashed over the gambling ban issue in Kedah.
Oh added that he is responsible for defending the party as one of its members.
He also commented on a statement he made on July 28, saying it was meant to defend the rights of all races.
“My statement is based on the principles of justice and truth upheld by the party to defend the basic rights of all races,” he said.
Earlier, he said Gerakan would not hesitate to leave PN if it meant defending the Chinese education system.
He was responding to condemnation from PAS leaders such as its information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari and deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, while the party mouthpiece Harakahdaily deemed Gerakan’s stance to be the same as DAP’s.
At the same time, Johor Gerakan Youth said it would freeze relations with state PAS Youth with immediate effect.
According to Oriental Daily News, Johor Gerakan Youth chief Teo Jin Wei said this will continue until the Islamist party apologises to the Chinese community and withdraws its statements on the school fundraising issue.
Cooperation will be considered after that, he added.
Teo explained that defending the Chinese education system is one of Gerakan’s goals as the party prioritises the interests of all Malaysians.
He also expressed his belief that PAS has gone to extremes over racial and religious issues.
He said PAS’ interference in Chinese education issues shows its limited knowledge on the matter, leading to statements that make the ethnic Chinese community uncomfortable.
“Gerakan, as a party for Malaysians, aims to build a harmonious Malaysia, and thus will not allow any individuals or political figures to cause disruptions,” he said.
Last Saturday, former education minister Maszlee Malik called for Aiman’s resignation as Sepang MP as well as Amanah women’s chief after the latter attended a charity event organised by SJK(C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Selangor.
Controversy broke out after Tiger Beer was found to be involved in supporting the event.
The issue went viral after a photo of Aiman holding the mock cheque with Tiger Beer’s logo made its rounds on social media. Her presence at the charity event was heavily criticised by PAS.
Aiman has since apologised to those who may have felt slighted by her holding the mock cheque.
She also lashed out at her detractors over her participation in the event, labelling them as “hypocrites”.
Meanwhile, Umno’s Datuk Puad Zarkashi claimed today that the PAS and Gerakan argument over funding for vernacular schools is purely political theatre.
The Umno supreme council member said the two Perikatan Nasional parties were playing off each other to appeal to their respective audiences, and not genuine in their public remarks over the matter.
“PAS knows that Gerakan is just making threats. It is a minor party, merely insignificant. It doesn’t dare to leave PN,” he said on Facebook.
“There is nowhere else to beg.”
Yesterday, PAS vice-president Datuk Amar Abdullah said Gerakan was free to leave PN if it felt unhappy with its partners in the coalition.
The two parties have been arguing openly after Gerakan president Dominic Lau spoke up in support of allowing vernacular schools obtain funding from sources that include alcohol and tobacco firms.
The controversy emerged due to a recent charity event in a Sepang school attended by Sepang MP Aiman Athirah Sabu that featured a mock cheque bearing the logo of the alcohol brand Tiger Beer.
The issue has divided political parties along racial lines.
Gerakan is a former component of Barisan Nasional that left the coalition after its 2018 general election defeat and officially joined PN in 2021.