By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider
Malay rights groups Perkasa along with the Malays Consultative Council (MPM) demanded today that MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek be arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for “disregarding national interests”.
Perkasa economic bureau director Dr Zubir Harun said Dr Chua’s insistence in pushing for the removal of the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity quota was against the spirit of the federal constitution.
“Chua Soi Lek, through the resolutions passed during the MCA Chinese Economic Congress, had caused much distress and worry among Malays in this country. Chua Soi Lek should be placed under the ISA for making these unwarranted demands,” said Zubir.
He added that Perkasa viewed the matter very seriously, and threatened to punish all MCA leaders at the ballot box.
“If MCA continues like this, we will not vote for any MCA candidates in the coming general election,” said Zubir.
During the MCA-sponsored Chinese Economic Congress last weekend, Dr Chua had urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to abolish the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity rule and to open up the boards of government-linked companies (GLCs) to non-Bumiputera talent.
This led to a war of words between Umno and MCA that involved Umno leaders Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who both reminded Dr Chua not to forget about Barisan Nasional’s (BN) struggles while fighting for the rights of the Chinese community.
However, Dr Chua has now denied questioning the New Economic Policy (NEP) at the congress, saying he merely suggested ways to increase the country’s competitiveness and achieve the Najib administration’s high-income goal.
His denial was carried in an interview with Berita Minggu today, the Sunday edition from the Umno-controlled The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.
“I never touched on the NEP… Look at my (Chinese Economic Congress) speech, I didn’t touch on one thing,” Dr Chua said in the interview.
“What I raised had to do with reality, how non-Bumiputeras can help the government to achieve the aims of the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) and New Economic Model (NEM).”
MPM secretary-general Dr Hasan Mad, however, said he was not convinced with Dr Chua’s explanation.
“This is what we call someone who has a forked tongue. How can Soi Lek deny saying it, when there is proof in written form, as reported by news reports quoting him as saying that?
“Soi Lek just wants Chinese support, because he knows he barely has nine per cent support right now,” said Hasan.
