Nga stands by his Umno-PAS cooperation equals terrorism remark

(FMT) – Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming has rebuffed Selangor PAS Youth’s demand that he apologise for a recent remark that PAS-Umno unity could lead to a ‘Taliban-like’ state.

“What do I need to apologise for?” Nga said when met at the Dewan Rakyat lobby. He said that he had already clarified his comments.

The Selangor PAS Youth wing has threatened to hold a rally if no apology was forthcoming from Nga, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Mengkibol assemblymen Chew Chong Sin for remarks which PAS Youth said went overboard.

Nga said he would leave it to the police to control the crowd if Selangor PAS Youth holds any rally. “We respect the law and the right to free speech. They can go ahead with their rally as long as they adhere to the law.”

Nga’s remark on the Taliban-like state was made two weeks ago. Another comment by Lim Guan Eng also caused an outcry. Lim had initially likened PAS-Umno unity to a “declaration of war” on non-Muslims, but his statement was later amended to say that a union of the two parties could target non-Malays.

Chew was reported to have said that cooperation between the two Malay parties could also “be taken advantage of by foreign terrorist groups”. He made his remark when commenting on the terrorist attacks at two mosques in New Zealand, but later retracted his comment, saying it had caused “misunderstanding”.