DAP right to urge PAS not to take itself so seriously
DAP should be lauded for urging PAS to cultivate a sense of humour.
For what is seen as an excess of this humour, DAP Youth chief Wong Kah Leong is being investigated by police for being responsible for a caricature of PAS Perak chief Razman Zakaria that is viewed by some quarters as offensive.
This would be stretching things somewhat because caricatures are part of the rigamarole of cartoons which have long been recognised as part and parcel of political commentary.
In fact, Perikatan Nasional – of which PAS is a component – has resorted to comic imagery during one of its election campaigns recently by depicting in cartoon form an image of DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook as a figure with sealed lips and bloated face.
In tandem with this image of Loke, PN campaigners carried images of a mentally harassed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim plagued by a host of pressing issues.
While the cartoonish images of Loke and Anwar were not really caustic – as was the depiction of Razman in the DAP caricature of him – it was within the range of what could be viewed in democratic discourse as fair comment.
Democratic discourse is enhanced, not devalued, by the latitude it provides for this type of political commentary.
Political discourse must not become so solemn that it does not allow resort to humour, either spoken or conveyed in cartoons.
Humour and its superior mode, wit, helps its practitioners hold people and problems in balance.
It can be a source of refreshment and perspective, and when employed well, becomes an essential part of the practitioner's apparatus of self-criticism.
Because PAS takes its religious mission in deadly earnest, the party is averse to anything that is redolent of human comedy.
Come to think of it, human comedy begins in the soul.
Terence Netto is a senior journalist and an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Illogical to put FT dept under Zahid, says Save KL
The federal territories ministry was formed in 1979 to align Kuala Lumpur's development with that of the Klang Valley. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA : A group representing Kuala Lumpur residents has opposed the proposal by an Umno Youth leader for the federal territories department to be placed under the supervision of deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Save KL chairman M Ali said such a move was illogical and impractical, and would render Dr Zaliha Mustafa's role as federal territories minister redundant. He also voiced fears about additional costs, overlapping roles, and inefficiencies. 'If such a transfer occurs, Zahid would oversee the federal territories department, which indirectly means he would be overseeing Zaliha who is the head of the department,' he told FMT. Ali also said that Zahid, the Umno president, already served as deputy prime minister, rural and regional development minister, and chairman of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council, in addition to representing the prime minister when necessary. 'Rural development is a very active and key role,' he said, adding that it would take up much of Zahid's time and focus. The federal territories ministry was formed in 1979 to align Kuala Lumpur's development with that of the Klang Valley. It was abolished in 1987 with a federal territories development department taking its place instead. The ministry was revived in 2004, restructured into the current federal territories department in 2022, and placed under the Prime Minister's Department. FT Umno Youth had proposed placing the department under Zahid's purview, saying the development of the three federal territories – Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan – seemed to have lost direction since the ministry was scrapped. FT Umno Youth chief Aliff Firdaus Abd Hadi claimed that key agencies in the territories were also working in silos, and that Zahid would be able to ensure better inter-agency coordination.
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
BN-PH pact likely to continue for GE16, but may change after that, says Zahid
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said BN is firm on continuing its alliance with PH in the run-up to the next nationwide polls despite calls for it to go solo. PETALING JAYA : While Barisan Nasional plans to continue its alliance with Pakatan Harapan in the next general election (GE16), BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says its strategies for elections after that may change. Zahid, the Umno president, acknowledged that there were calls for BN to contest in GE16 on its own, but said the coalition is firm on continuing its alliance with PH. However, he said BN's political strategies for the general elections that follow will be determined by the electoral performance of the parties in the alliance, Berita Harian reported. 'We do not know how many seats we will have, and how many seats they will have. 'Remember that, in Malaysia, differences in views are conventionally based on differing party 'colours'. We are willing to forget our different 'colours' for the sake of political stability,' he was quoted as saying. The Umno-led BN played a crucial role in enabling Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to form the unity government in the wake of the 2022 general election, which resulted in a hung Parliament. PH had won 81 parliamentary seats while BN won 30, in what was the latter's worst electoral performance to date.
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Zahid warns of a ‘cancer' that could bring down Umno
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi opening the Arau Umno division's office today. (Bernama pic) ARAU : Umno leaders and members must respond swiftly to issues raised by their detractors to avoid such issues becoming 'a severe cancer that could bring us down', party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today. Zahid said that if such issues are not addressed in a timely manner, they could go viral and affect public perception, regardless of their validity. 'Even if these are repeated or fabricated issues without basis, if left unaddressed, they will become a severe cancer that could bring us down,' he said after visiting the Arau Umno division today. He acknowledged that the party must accept the reality that it has been ineffective in managing issues, thus allowing other parties to win more seats in elections by manipulating public sentiment. 'There are parties that instil cult-like loyalty among their followers. Though their membership is smaller than ours, they secure more seats than we do,' he said. Zahid called on Umno leaders at all levels to deal with arising issues promptly and effectively. At the same time, the party leadership and the members must protect internal unity and party strength, even if faced with differing views and opinions, he said.
