Guan Eng condemns alleged racist remarks by Hadi’s son-in-law over lieutenant general’s appointment
DAP national adviser Lim Guan Eng has called for severe punishment against a PAS leader for allegedly making a racist remark in response to the promotion of Malaysia’s first Chinese lieutenant general.
Guan Eng strongly criticised Sungai Buloh PAS division chief Zaharuddin Muhammad, who is also the son-in-law of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, over what he described as an “extremist and racist post”.
The Bagan MP accused Zaharuddin of inciting racial hatred and unrest through a Facebook post, which has since been deleted. He urged authorities to prosecute Zaharuddin, stating that the post constituted a criminal offence.
In the post, Zaharuddin presented a hypothetical scenario set in 2058, where a Chinese individual from Kampung Sungai Baru — a Malay-majority area — is appointed as Malaysia’s 50th prime minister. He also included a screenshot of a news article dated yesterday, announcing the promotion of Johnny Lim from major general to lieutenant general in the armed forces.
Although Zaharuddin claimed his fictional scenario was unrelated to the actual promotion, Guan Eng argued that the post was inflammatory and offensive.
“Such an extremist and racist post not only disparages the professionalism and integrity of the Malaysian Armed Forces, but also the singular achievement of Johnny as well as the contributions and loyalty of non-Malay Malaysians,” Guan Eng said.
He also accused PAS of promoting “hate-filled and intolerant politics” and escalating its rhetoric to levels of “fanatical racism and extremism” that must be stopped.
“No institution is sacred from PAS’ attacks. Minority ethnic groups are easy prey to be maligned, while the Federal Constitution is treated with open contempt.
“Only severe punishment against such irresponsible and dangerous narratives can Malaysia avoid the racist and extremist dystopia PAS seeks to establish,” he added.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim also condemned the post, calling it a “vile, racist, seditious, and treasonous statement”. He urged for firm legal action to send a message to politicians never to stoke racial tensions.
Sim, who is also DAP deputy secretary-general, said the post had insulted not only Johnny Lim but also thousands of non-Malay members of the armed forces who have shown willingness to sacrifice for the country.
“When enemy bullets come flying, they don’t ask whether our soldiers are Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban, or Orang Asli. Yet, when an appointment is announced, some people choose to see race before sacrifice,” he said.
Sim further noted that Zaharuddin’s post indirectly questioned the judgment of both the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who serves as the supreme commander of the military.
“(Zaharuddin’s) malicious statement lays bare PAS’ true attitude towards non-Muslims in this country.
“After 41 years of service, does this lieutenant general’s sacrifice still not make him ‘worthy’ in Zaharuddin’s eyes? Is a soldier’s love for his country to be measured by skin colour?” Sim added.
Earlier, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan also criticised Zaharuddin for using Malacca-born Johnny’s promotion to stir division among Malaysians. He lamented that what should have been a moment of pride had instead been turned into a source of division, potentially harming social cohesion.