The Songkok Issue: The DAP Central Executive Committee is Being Petty and Trivial

Read here for more the article "To wear or not to wear songkok " and READ here commentary in Rocky Bru's Blog

We say,

The DAP Central Executive Committee has lost its bearings. Sadly, it is still behaving and acting like a party in Opposition mode.

There are bigger issues to worry about than to dabble in an issue about DAP State Assemblymen wearing a songkok. The songkok has been accepted as a Malaysian headgear, worn by Malaysian dignitaries attending official functions in audience with the Sultan and the Agung..

The DAP CEC members should realise that the songkok does not make you a Malay or a Muslim. It certainly identifies you as a Malaysian.

For the DAP CEC to be petty about its politicians wearing a songkok is unbecoming of a major political party that is now either running a state government or a major player in two other state governments.

The DAP CEC members should get out of their parochial mindset and get on with the major concerns and problems facing the nation and ordinary Malaysian. The songkok is not an issue for Malaysians.

The songkok is every bit Malaysian, as much as the womenfolk wearing the baju kebaya or the batik shirt.

Silly fools.
-Malaysian Unplug

Excerpts:

The four DAP assemblymen in the state are in a limbo over the wearing of the songkok at the opening of the Johor state legislative assembly.

The assemblymen from Bentayan, Mengkibol, Senai and Skudai, are in a dilemma as some members of the DAP central executive committee (CEC) don't want them to wear the headgear at the June 19 event where the Johor Sultan would be present.

However, a state DAP meeting decided on April 20 that the assemblymen could wear the songkok as a mark of respect to the Sultan.

State DAP vice-chairman Norman Fernadez said it was unfair for the CEC members to practise double standards as assemblymen in Selangor wore the songkok at the opening of their state assemblies.

“Their (CEC) argument that the assemblymen in Selangor are members of the Government does not hold water.It is not fair to put the Johor DAP assemblymen in such a difficult position, especially with the Sultan,” Norman said, urging the four to wear their uniform, including the songkok.

Johor DAP chairman and Skudai assemblyman Dr Boo Cheng Hau said the state committee had made a decision but it was now up to the CEC to give the final nod.

Mengkibol assemblyman Ng Lam Hua said personally he did not mind wearing the songkok as a mark of respect.“I asked my constituents and they said they do not care what I wear but are more concerned about what I say at the state assembly,” he said.

Senai assemblyman Ong Kow Meng, who also did not mind wearing the songkok, hoped the CEC would clear the confusion.

However, Bentayan assemblyman Gwee Tong Hiang said that he did not mind taking his chances by not wearing the songkok during the opening.

Speaker Datuk Ali Hassan advised all the assemblymen to wear their official attire including the songkok. "Assemblymen in Johor are different. They may not be able to enter the assembly without the songkok,” he said, adding that he hoped the DAP assemblymen did not create problems on June 19.