MCA fights back over ‘ketuanan Melayu’ and junior partner role
By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — The MCA hit back at Umno today in an escalating row over Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek’s remarks about “ketuanan Melayu” and unhappiness at having to play second fiddle to the ruling Malay party in Barisan Nasional (BN).
MCA deputy publicity chief Loh Seng Kok said today Dr Chua had only been conveying the views “held by many people” when he cautioned BN leaders against using words like “pendatang” (immigrants), “penumpang” (passengers), “terhutang budi” (indebted to), “kurang patriotic” (unpatriotic) and “ketuanan Melayu” (Malay supremacy) at last weekend’s BN convention.
The MCA president had also taken a direct swipe at Umno by pointing out that the MCA was not in agreement with how important government policy decisions were made during Umno supreme council meetings instead of in the Cabinet.
This prompted Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to claim yesterday that Dr Chua had upset a good number of leaders — including those in the MCA — with his speech.
Similarly, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi said Dr Chua’s statements were untrue, unnecessary and not in tandem with BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s views or those of other BN component party leaders.
Today, Loh hit back at the two and questioned how they could govern the country if they could not accept “messages from the public”.
“BN leaders including Datuk Seri Hishammuddin and Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi must display an honest and humble attitude and accept the facts,” he said in a press statement.
“As leaders, we must be always ready to accept public criticisms and questionings.”
The MCA man claimed Dr Chua was merely being self-critical when he made the speech, in “consonance” with Najib’s warning to coalition leaders to avoid the “diseases” of delusion, amnesia, inertia and arrogance.
He further urged BN leaders to be more self-critical in order to learn from their mistakes and win the hearts and minds of the people.
