The homophobic comments of DAP’s ‘Superman’ Hew Kuan Yau against a columnist, has rightly been condemned by progressive Malaysians.

Diversity, an NGO advocating gender equality and sexuality freedom, was among those that took Hew to task for the serial attacks on columnist Josh Hong on the social media.

Diversity also pointed out that this was not the first time that Hew has verbally assaulted others using homophobic language derogatory to the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual (LGBT) community.

While Hew has been forced to make an apology, he has been at pains to stress that “it has nothing to do with DAP.” The gallant party-saver has even posted his photo with DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, saying that he will assume all the guilt.

According to Diversity, despite his apology Hew did not rectify the homophobic remarks that he had made. To date, DAP top leadership has said nothing on the matter as well.

Can the DAP top leadership so easily dissociate themselves from their rabid homophobic 'Superman'? Hasn’t Hew been the party’s pitbull that tours the country together with other top leaders, and plays the role of hitman who hurls obscenities at political opponents with the full approval of the top DAP leadership?

The public can just Google in Chinese and see for themselves the role that Hew has played in DAP’s ceramahs.

What is the vision for Malaysia that DAP leaders “dare to dream”? Is it a liberal, progressive and social democratic society that suddenly comes into place when DAP has captured state power?

Meanwhile, are homophobic demagogic pitbulls like Hew merely a means to this end when they realise their “Malaysian dream”? Or will this dream only include a society in which “real, strong and genuine men” are homophobic rednecks?

Incidentally, for all their support of former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim throughout his sodomy convictions, does DAP have a policy on the colonial era sodomy laws of this country? Does the party have a position on the right of Malaysians to sexuality freedom, especially that of the LGBT community?

The right to sexuality includes the right to express one's sexuality, and to be free from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. This right is based on the universality of human rights and the inalienable nature of rights belonging to every person by virtue of being human. As such, homophobia has been condemned in most democratic countries as an unacceptable violation of human dignity.

If DAP does have a position on this right to express one’s sexuality, that is all the more reason for their top leaders to step out and condemn the backward thinking of their ‘Superman’.

The DAP top leaders must understand that, as Superman’s father had admonished him, “with great power comes great responsibility...”

That responsibility for the top DAP leadership starts with an open apology to the aggrieved columnist and Malaysians for the rabid snaps by their homophobic ‘Superman’.

DR KUA KIA SOONG is adviser to human rights movement Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram). His latest book ‘Moderate and Extremists in Malaysia - Provocative Essays’ has just been published.