Press Statement
2nd December 2020

DAP expressly condemns the statement made by Government MP for Pasir Puteh Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS), urging the government to declare the US as a terrorist country. While we condemn acts of violence, we must remain objective and judicious. We must seriously consider the ramifications of these emotional outbursts inside the walls of Parliament.

The United States of America and Malaysia sit as members of both the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), alongside several trade agreements which are mutually beneficial to both countries. Calling the US a terrorist country, unsubstantiated as it may be and done irrationally, may cause irreparable damage to our economy at a time when we are battling a global pandemic and economic crisis. By labelling the US as a terrorist country, is Pasir Puteh suggesting to cut off diplomatic ties between our countries?  Does he understand what this means not only for our economy but also for thousands of Malaysians living there or who have families in the US?

Pasir Puteh needs to be aware that his instigating words as an MP and as PAS Dewan Ulama Chief, can have detrimental effects to the country. At a critical time like this, perhaps it is wise to think of the Malaysians who have lost their livelihoods before putting the stability of our economy at further risk.

At the same time, we urge the Foreign Ministry to reprimand this PAS MP and repudiate his deviant foreign policy views towards our second largest trading partner.

Teo Nie Ching
DAP International Secretary
MP for Kulai