'Liar' Hadi planning repeat of Sheraton Move, says Kit Siang

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang today accused Abdul Hadi Awang of trying to create "another Sheraton Move conspiracy" to topple the government of Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Anwar Ibrahim, while denying an earlier allegation by the PAS president of "Islamophobia" on the part of DAP. 

In a statement, Lim said Hadi claimed he had masterminded the so-called Sheraton Move which saw the collapse of the PH government in February 2020 after just 22 months in power. 

He said the "first step" of the "conspiracy" had centred on the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), announced by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2018.

"The ICERD issue in 2018 allowed Hadi to spread lies and falsehoods that DAP was anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-royalty, and that DAP was behind the ratification proposal when in actual fact, DAP ministers and leaders were completely surprised when Mahathir announced in his speech at the UN General Assembly in September 2018 that Malaysia was prepared to ratify the UN treaties and covenants on core human rights issues," he said. 

Adding that Hadi had yet to apologise for his "lies and falsehoods" about DAP in this regard, Lim said the PAS leader had nevertheless begun to tell "new lies and falsehoods" about DAP in Anwar's government, accusing it of being "creedless and immoral".

"DAP is as innocent of Hadi‘s charges of Islamophobia as DAP is innocent of Hadi’s earlier charges of being the mastermind behind the abortive move to ratify ICERD in 2018," he said.

"Why is Hadi becoming such an incorrigible liar?"

Lim said he was for the ratification of ICERD but only "after the majority of the races and religions in Malaysia support it and understand that it poses no threat to the various races, religions or the Federal Constitution but a step forward to join the world in promoting human rights".

"Hadi’s latest allegation that DAP is guilty of Islamophobia is most ridiculous and laughable," he said. 

"Since its formation 56 years ago in 1966, DAP has fully supported Article 3 of the constitution which stipulates Islam 'as the religion of the federation but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the federation'.

"Would a political party which is Islamophobic support Article 3 of the constitution?"