A major failure by UMNO “demonizers” as their black propaganda that DAP is anti-Malay and anti-Islam getting no traction among ordinary Malays and Muslims in East Coast simply because they are lies, fake news and false information

I have returned from a three-day 1,200-km “Jelajah Raya di Pantai Timur” in Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri in the East Coast states.

I had at least three objectives.

Firstly, I was on a mission of moderation. There is no point in Malaysia preaching the wasatiyyah principles of moderation, justice, compassion, balance and excellence to other countries in international conferences when Malaysians are allowed to disregard these very wasatiyyah principles at home.

Recently, intolerance, bigotry and extremism in Malaysia had reared their ugly heads, like the demand that non-Muslims should not participate in breaking-of-fast events; the thuggish incident in Kluang where the DAP MP for the area, Liew Chin Tong, was roughed up during his visit of goodwill and solidarity to the Kluang Bazaar Ramadan; the escalation of the politics of lies, falsehoods, hate, bigotry and intolerance; and most recently, the shocking statements by UMNO and PAS leaders, propagandists and cybertroopers that US Department of Justice (DOJ) kleptocratic action to forfeit US$1.7 billion of 1MDB-linked assets as a result of an international 1MDB money-laundering scandal was “part of a conspiracy to meddle in Malaysia’s affairs because the country had a Muslim-led government”.

Malaysia is facing a critical test whether we can succeed, progress and prosper as a united, harmonious and moderate nation where all the diverse races, religions, languages and cultures are our asset and strength or become our weaknesses and liabilities to drive Malaysia towards a divided, failed and a rogue state.

All Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans, whether Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs or Taoists, must fly the banner of moderation and develop a zero tolerance for extremism or fanaticism whatever their shape for form.

Secondly, I also carried the message asking the people of Kelantan to be one of the five states together with Kedah, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Johor to use their vote in the forthcoming 14th General Election to “kill two birds with one stone” by voting to change two governments – the state government as well as the Federal government in Putrajaya.

My third objective was to ascertain the effect and impact of long-standing UMNO black propaganda demonising DAP leaders and in particular myself, as anti-Malay and anti-Islam, virtually painting me as some sort of a devil, a puaka or even a jembalang.

During my “Jelajah Raya di Pantai Timur” and my visits to the warongs in Pasir Puteh, Ketereh and Machang, I encountered only courtesy, friendliness and solidarity and not suspicion, distrust, malice or hatred.

I find that the UMNO campaign of “demonization” of DAP leader and myself as anti-Malay and anti-Muslim do not have any credibility or traction among the ordinary Malays and Muslims, which goes to show that ordinary Malays, just like ordinary Indians, Kadazans and Ibans, are born moderates and do not easily succumb to the lies, fake news and false information constantly concocted and disseminated by UMNO propaganda mills of lies and falsehoods.

My warong visits and “Jelajah Raya di Pantai Timur” have vindicated and fortified my belief that ordinary Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans, whether Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus or Sikhs are all supporters of moderation and do not want or support extremism or fanaticism in whatever form, unless they are incited and misled to do so.

This is a major failure of the UMNO “demonizers” in their black propaganda falsely portraying DAP as anti-Malay and anti-Islam, as such a demonization campaign is not getting any traction or belief among ordinary Malays and Muslims in East Coast simply because that they are just lies, fake news and false information.

Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, want Malaysia to be a united, peaceful, tolerant and successful nation which could leverage on the strength and asset of our diversities of race, religion, language and culture to transform Malaysia Into a top world class nation in every field of human endeavor and be an example to the world of a successful, progressive and prosperous nation.