KUALA LUMPUR – Several DAP lawmakers have come forward to chastise Siti Mastura Muhammad (Kepala Batas-PN) for spreading fake news of them being related to former Malayan Communist Party leader Chin Peng and former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (Beruas-PH) said Siti Mastura, who lied in her speech, was unfit to be a leader despite being an ustazah (religious teacher) with a PhD – as she would lead the people astray.
“I see that Kepala Batas MP (Siti Mastura) still has not admitted her mistake, or shown remorse over her slander.
“I think it is important for me to say that she is unfit to lead the people, and is someone untrustworthy,” he told a press conference in Parliament, today.
Ngeh said the surname of a Chinese person would indicate if they were related, pointing out that none of those mentioned by Siti Mastura had the same surnames.
He added that Siti Mastura did not conduct any research before making her speech, and that her silence on the matter only proved that she had lied.
Meanwhile, Teresa Kok (Seputeh-PH) debunked allegations that she is related to Betty Chew, the wife of national DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-PH).
She also expressed shock that a person with a PhD would “blindly” believe a hoax.
“We know that Chin Peng and Lee were controversial figures in the Malay community, so they want to connect us all and imply that we are not good people,” she said.
“When the family tree (relating us to Chin Peng) surfaced, we thought this was the work of cybertroopers.
“I did not expect an MP, and someone with a PhD, would believe this lie and put it in her speech. So, I think (her actions) are irresponsible.”
Kok, who is also national DAP vice-chairman, said an MP’s speech carries weight with the grassroots, especially if they are religious educators.
She added that several MPs wanted the opportunity to have Siti Mastura clarify her claims in the lower House yesterday but were not given the chance to do so.
Siti Mastura had claimed that Guan Eng and his father, DAP stalwart Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, were related to Chin Peng and Lee during a speech in a PAS programme in Kemaman on November 4.
Her speech, uploaded to YouTube, showed her alleging that Kit Siang is a relative of the two figures, which Guan Eng repeatedly denied.
Guan Eng also said that Siti Mastura has until Thursday to furnish evidence supporting her “malicious slander” before he takes legal action.
Also at the press conference were DAP’s R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH), Howard Lee (Ipoh Timur-PH), and Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Bukit Bendera-PH). – November 8, 2023