Sarawak DAP’s refusal to don the ceremonial attire and songkok during the opening of the Sarawak State Assembly sitting reflects its practise of inciting racial sentiments among the Chinese community, said an MCA leader.
In the past, the DAP never failed to condemn the MCA for donning the headgear during the opening ceremony of any legislative assembly, be it at Parliament or at the state level, said party secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.
“The DAP never could comprehend that wearing the songkok was in line with decorum and respect, and had nothing to do with bowing to racial hegemony.
“Wearing the songkok should not be dragged into a racial argument which the DAP seems to be fanning,” he said in a statement yesterday.
While the Selangor and Penang DAP had backed down from their past ways of refusing to don the songkok, Sarawak DAP remained obstinate in rejecting it and blaming it on the Speaker’s previous ruling.
“Within the Opposition itself, its leaders do not hold common values,” he said.
“This lack of cohesion is more obvious between DAP and PKR Sarawak where PKR opted to wear the songkok,” he said.
“If, for such a simple matter DAP and PKR are unable to reach a clear understanding, both parties will not be able to work as a team and are not capable of taking over the Federal Government,” added the Transport Minister.
“The acrimony between Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng and Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian is no secret when Wong betrayed and removed Baru Bian as the ‘shadow Opposition leader’ despite touting him as the next Chief Minister during the state election campaign,” he said.
Therefore, Kong said, it would be interesting to see what the main body of PAS and PKR had to say regarding their partner DAP’s inconsistency in donning the songkok as the PAS Youth had openly chided DAP Sarawak about it.
“Considering the divergent ideologies held by all three Pakatan Rakyat parties, one can’t help but foresee instability within the civil service and among the rakyat as the Opposition will be issuing conflicting instructions on every occasion and policy,” he said.
During the opening ceremony for the first Sarawak assembly sitting after the April 16 state election; the 12 newly-elected DAP representatives turned up in dark suits unlike the other elected representatives who wore full ceremonial attire and headgear.
The state DAP claimed that they decided not to wear the ceremonial attire as the attire would cost about RM2,000 a piece.
