Criticise Umno too for ties with communists, says DAP

DAP today called Umno and Utusan Malaysia ‘hypocrites’ and practicing double standards for questioning the approval of controversial local film ‘The New Village’.

While Umno alleged that the suspended Chinese-language movie glorifies communism, it failed to criticise Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin for forming an alliance with a ‘communist’group, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today.

“Why are both silent when Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin, in his capacity as BN Youth chairman, announced the setting up of a permanent secretariat on October 12 2009 to strengthen ties between Barisan Nasional Youth and the Communist Youth League of China (CYL),” said Lim in a statement.

The Bagan MP said that both UMNO Youth and Utusan were hypocrites for failing to ask for action against Khairy for ‘glorifying communism’.

Lim alleged that both bodies “continues to play with the fire of racism and lies to further divide the nation with walls of hatred and fear”.

However, Lim said he would not comment on the film himself as he has not seen it, although he said both Utusan and Umno has criticised the film as twisting historical facts and inciting the people.

Lim also questioned: “If both are sincere in opposing communism, why then did they not oppose Malaysia establishing close diplomatic relations with communist countries like China, Cuba and Vietnam?”

Lim said no one criticised former Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Rahim Nor for signing a peace agreement on behalf of Malaysia with the Communist Party of Malaya on 2 December 1989.

It was reported that the home ministry has suspended the screening of a local Chinese movie "The New Village", which was set to open in cinemas on August 22.

The movie is said to “promote communism”.

Another review by the Film Censorship Board is pending, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.