Tee Keat raps critics over MCA quit poll
(The Malaysian Insider) – Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat today hit back at critics of his weblog’s opinion poll over the MCA’s future in the ruling Barisan Nasional, calling personal challenges to quit the coalition “laughable” and a local newspaper’s stance revealing a resistance to change in the current political scenario.
The MCA president explained that the poll in his www.ongteekeat.net weblog was put up after Barisan Nasional’s dismal outing in Election 2008 to assess public views and the party was determined to move on with the public feedback in mind.
The poll “Whether MCA should quit BN?” was brought down earlier this week after some 76 per cent said the party should quit the coalition.
“I think, any political party that strives to stay relevant should not turn a blind eye to any contemporary discourse, even if the topic is less palatable to the party,” said Ong in a posting at his weblog, adding it was “indeed unfortunate that a legislator or the media with specific agenda chose the spin the issue out of context”.
“The issuance of personal challenge to quit BN is laughable and uncalled for, as the poll is purely academic in nature, as was rightly put by the Prime Minister-cum-BN President, whilst the outcome of the poll only serves as a reference for the party, just like any other opinion polls conducted by some independent or partisan-linked entities,” said the Transport Minister.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak called it an academic exercise, adding MCA would remain a senior member of the coalition.
Tee Keat also noted the “personal and vicious” challenge issued to him would be treated with the “disdain it deserves”, saying it was deplorable that politicians do not understand the meaning of opinion polls.
“The hegemonic swipe would only further alienate right-thinking Malaysians, including those who choose to stay committed with BN.
“A particular daily’s stance has to a certain extent revealed its resistance to change amid the prevailing political scenario. MCA having gone through the electoral setback in 2008, is at least bracing for change. The party is determined to move on with the public feedback in mind,” he added.
The Umno-controlled Utusan Malaysia’s Awang Selamat, a pseudonym used by its editors, said the opinion poll was a move by MCA to pressure Umno for concessions. Both MCA and Umno together with MIC are the original members of the Alliance when the country received independence in 1957.
He also said the party would not turn a deaf ear to the people, adding the MCA was not apologetic for articulating the peoples’ concerns.
The poll and other polls were removed after an outcry last week with DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang asking Tee Keat if he would take his party out of Barisan Nasional. The first response to the poll, “Should MCA leave BN?” was recorded on Aug 27, last year, before Tee Keat took over as MCA president.
