By Chong Zhemin, DAP Perak Economic Development Bureau Chief

Following the “pendatang” remark, Gerakan has suspended the membership of Tan Lai Soon and issued him a show-cause letter.

The first question that comes to everyone mind is, “Why did Gerakan take more than 24 hours to realise Tan Lai Soon had made a racist remark?” If Tan Lai Soon had made a racist remark, he should have been reprimanded by the speaker or refuted by party leaders on the spot when making that remark.

Gerakan deputy president Cheah Soon Hai denied that the party gave in to external pressure to suspend Tan Lai Soon. Given the circumstances and timeline of the suspension decision, one would find it hard to believe that Gerakan did not bow to UMNO’s pressure.

Former UMNO Minister Zainuddin Maidin had also said in a blog post that it is true that Malays are also “pendatang”. Will Gerakan dare to stand up against UMNO and press for action against Zainuddin’s unMalaysian remark? Failure in which would expose Gerakan’s hypocrisy and double standards against all “pendatang” remarks.

This is a critical litmus test for Gerakan to prove that they can uphold their party’s stand – “We are all Malaysians and no Malaysian is a “pendatang” or an immigrant.”

Gerakan must be consistent and demand UMNO to suspend Zainuddin’s membership and issue him a show-cause letter.