COMMENT | It is interesting to note that Penang government Exco member Dr Afif Bahardin has welcomed former Perkasa Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris to join Pakatan Harapan together with 35 Perkasa Youth executive council members and ordinary members.

Interestingly, ever since the Malay centric leaders of Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin Yassin have formed Bersatu to join DAP in Pakatan Harapan, DAP has been silent on Perkasa’s travesty of Malay rights or distorted perception on educational issues like the recent declaration of “war” on the BN government if the Unified Examinations Certificate is being recognised.

It is regrettable to note that DAP and its normally outspoken leader Lim Kit Siang did not reprimand Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali for this.

It is also noteworthy to hear the former Perkasa Youth Chief Irwan Fahmi’s admission that it had been Perkasa’s intention to bring Najib's downfall for his perceived failure to uphold Malay rights.

This has prompted him to join Harapan in his belief that Harapan will uphold Malay-centric rights and issues better under Dr Mahathir than the current Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Thus, we are now witnessing Harapan attracting Malay centric and extremist elements like beehives. Is DAP going to be responsible for empowering Perkasa later, the way they have empowered PAS before?

What is DAP’s Lim Kit Siang or his son secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s comments or stand on this? What is DAP’s take on this recent trend of elements of Malay-centric and extremism joining Harapan?

Is DAP going to work with Perkasa the way they have worked with PAS, solely in the interest of their political agenda and greed for more political power? Will DAP put their foot down and say “No” to extremists like Perkasa?

No wonder the normally outspoken DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has been stricken with a guilty conscience and is playing “ The Sound of Silence “.

TI LIAN KER is the chairperson of the MCA Religious Harmony Bureau.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.