Ti: MCA has thrown the gauntlet, it’s your turn DAP

(FMT) – Now that the MCA president has vowed to quit the Barisan Nasional government if the amendment to the hudud Bill is passed, its spokesman, Ti Lian Ker wants to know if DAP representatives in Selangor are willing to do the same.

Yesterday, the former assemblyman said DAP should either demand that PAS be kicked out of the PKR-led Selangor administration or opt out as a “matter of principle”, after a Private Member’s Bill, Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) 2016 on hudud was tabled in Parliament by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang on Thursday.

Ti challenged the secular party to do so in retaliation to the DAP challenging MCA, along with other non-Malay BN component parties to quit the ruling coalition over the controversial bill.

MCA, Ti pointed out, had always opposed the bill and while he noted that DAP was also against it, the latter continued to work alongside PAS in the Selangor government, which he added reeked of hypocrisy.

He further argued that DAP’s willingness to work with PAS was more atrocious than a BN lawmaker bringing forward a motion to debate hudud.

“Despite this, we are still sticking to our principles and the President’s promise is a testament to this. And we will quit BN when hudud is actually passed.

“For all the fuss they kick up over hudud, DAP is still working alongside PAS. And they have the gall to ask us to quit BN now,” he told FMT.

PAS has four representatives in the Selangor exco, while DAP has three.

Ti, who is also MCA’s Religious Harmony Bureau chairman, reminded DAP that they were jumping the gun when they challenged MCA to quit BN as the debate on hudud did not mean it would be passed.

BN, Ti stressed, was not the one who tabled the Bill. “It was PAS all along and DAP knows this. And PAS, is the very party that DAP’s ally, PKR, is still cosy with and working closely with.”

While PAS has cut ties with DAP and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), the Islamist party still maintains a relationship with PKR, especially in Selangor.

PKR, on the other hand, is part of Pakatan Harapan, which also comprises DAP and Amanah, a PAS splinter party.