Pakatan gets riled up over DAP 'harbi' banner

Pakatan gets riled up over DAP 'harbi' banner

Unidentified quarters have managed to rile up PAS and DAP in Galas, Kelantan, by questioning again their cooperation despite the differences of ideology between the two partners.

A banner was this morning found hanging in the Gua Musang town area with clearly printed words which screamed: “Why is PAS still supporting DAP (harbi)?”

'Harbi' refers to non-Muslims at war with Muslims.

It also described DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh as one who 'hina perjuangan Islam' (has insulted the Islamic struggle).

The banner quoted Karpal as having said: 'Mau wujudkan negara Islam langkah mayat kami dulu' ("You want to set up an Islamic state, you have to step over our dead bodies first").

The banner was taken down by PAS and DAP workers soon after wind of it had reached their parties operations centre in Gua Musang.

Speaking at a press conference held afterwards, PAS' Galas by-election machinery advisor Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah and DAP's national publicity secretary Tony Pua condemned the “racist” and “undemocratic” message put up by the parties' detractors.

Rahim said the banner was also against Islamic teachings.

“It is racist when we call someone 'harbi', as 'harbi' signifies open war with Muslims,” the Kota Baru MP said. He described the banner as an attempt to provoke Muslims.

"As the advisor to the PAS (election) machinery, I would like to make it clear here: it is PAS versus Umno. It is not DAP that is contesting in Galas.

"If you want to issue a challenge, please challenge PAS. Say it out loud - what kind of challenge do you want to issue?" said Abdul Rahim.

When asked, Rahim - known as Cikgu Rahim among the local - said he had no idea who was behind the banner, but urged the police to take action.

Pua (left) said although DAP had always been labelled as "anti-Islam" by “irresponsible” parties, the Penang goverment that it leads has put in place policies that belie such accusations.

Islamist party PAS has in the past been criticised for cooperating with DAP given the latter's opposition to the Islamic state - the rallying cry and cornerstone of PAS' ideology.