SDP candidate raps Malays who ‘cower’ when asked to speak up

SINGAPORE — Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Damanhuri Abas made a case yesterday (Sept 3) for greater representation of Malays in Parliament, as he revisited the issue of the Government disallowing female Muslim nurses to wear a tudung at work, and criticised Malay champions who “cower” when asked to stand up for issues.

Mr Damanhuri, who is making his debut in politics, also defended his party colleague Sidek Mallek, who is standing in Holland Bukit-Timah GRC. Mr Sidek had drawn criticism for his poor command of Malay during an SDP press conference last week introducing his candidacy.

“Sidek is here to represent the minority. He may not be good in his Malay, but surely he has the courage to come forward and be counted, unlike so many of those Malay champions who only shout the loudest, but cower when asked to be seen,” said Mr Damanhuri, who until recently, was director of the Muhammadiyah Islamic College, an arm of the non-profit Muhammadiyah Association.

He added: “This is SDP. We are different. Why was Sidek fielded in Holland-Bukit Timah, even though the number of Malay voters is very few? It shows that for us in SDP, unlike the PAP, no matter how few our numbers are, we want you to be represented because it is your right to be heard.”

Mr Damanhuri also reiterated his call for female Muslim nurses to be allowed to don tudungs while at work, saying that he has not seen any evidence of the Government’s reason for imposing the restriction, which is that it must balance it against how other communities view it.

“A Malay woman wearing tudung is the most common sight in our society, as common as the flowering jasmine on a beautiful spring day,” he added.

If Muslim PAP candidates such as Madam Halimah Yacob can wear white tudungs during party-related events, so can Muslim nurses, he said. “When we, the society, allow professional nurses to wear tudung, I guarantee they will look beautiful and clean, just like the honourable Mdm Halimah, and all the female PAP Malay candidates on show this General Election.”