by Lim Kit Siang

All should beware of people trying to wreck the unity of Pakatan Rakyat. The latest is the allegation that DAP National Chairman and MP for Bukit Gelugor Karpal Singh wants PAS to be deregistered.

I spoke to Karpal and he made it clear that he did not call for the deregistration of PAS.

He was criticising the Muslim Lawyers’ Association (MLA) for threatening the Bar Council over its support for Catholic weekly Herald, stressing that in the interests of national unity, political or professional bodies should not operate along racial and religious lines.

Rational and patriotic Malaysians have been increasingly concerned by the escalation of the rhetoric of racial and religious intolerance and hatred in the country, and this concern should not be allowed to be sidelined and distorted by baseless allegations like Karpal calling for the deregistration of PAS.

What is needed is for rational and patriotic Malaysians to keep their focus to demand the de-escalation and end of the rhetoric of racial and religious intolerance and hatred, which is completely in contradiction to the values of moderation and inclusiveness espoused by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia policy and his world-wide campaign for a “Global Movement of Moderates”.