A Comedienne in the Making?

Local comic Douglas Lim recently released a three-minute video lampooning PAS Kepala Batas MP Dr Siti Mastura Mohamad. She shot to stardom for her supposed confusion over Chinese surnames.

In case anyone has missed out, Siti Mastura had allegedly said that various members of the DAP hierarchy, including Lim Guan Eng and his father Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang were related to Lee Kuan Yew and communist bogeyman Chin Peng.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my

The 34-year-old was challenged to provide evidence of her claims made during a PAS ceramah in Kemaman, Terengganu. Douglas’ video has been met with loud laughs from netizens who were amused naturally. In a mock press conference, Douglas understood why some would call the former Singapore PM “Lim” Kuan Yew when the entire word recognised him as “Lee”. 

Netizens took the opportunity to question Siti Mastura’s education when she confused ‘Lim’ with ‘Lee’. For the record, the 34-year old holds a doctorate in Islamic Development Management from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). USM is the second highest ranking public university in Malaysia after Universiti Malaya.

While many are having a laugh at Siti Mastura’s expense, the bottom line remains that she saw it fit to utter such a diatribe at an official function. The racist undertones are barely disguised when she ominously warned the audience that “these people (ie DAP members of Chinese origin) are in our parliament.”

Laugh and ridicule the lady for her preposterous statements but the fact remains that she probably was playing to the gallery. Are the constituents of Kemaman really that uneducated and backward to believe this narrative? Or are they just plain racist in not wanting anyone of Chinese origin to be in the august house, tarring all with communist and/or Singapore links?

Is this a fault in our education system? Is our history classes in school a mockery? Do we not interact with others and know the similarities and differences? On the other hand, are we not all cousins if we claim to be from Adam and Eve? So, is Siti Mastura an exception or the general rule of PAS’s members view on other cultures in Malaysia? I am sure PMX or the MOE is not amused!

Reference:

Comedian pokes fun at instant sensation Siti Mastura but there’s nothing funny about her racist remarks, R. Bala, Focus Malaysia, 10 November 2023