MCA told to face reality that it failed to match DAP, says Pas
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA must wake up from its “slumber” and face the political reality of having failed to match DAP, instead of targeting Umno’s cooperation with Pas.
In making this claim, Pas deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said MCA, despite winning only one seat in the 14th General Election, appeared to be living in a “fantasy world”.
MCA, he said, would be unwise to attack the Umno-Pas cooperation formed since the Sungai Kandis by-election.
“The threat by MCA to eject Umno, which won 53 parliamentary seats, is a joke,” he said.
Tuan Ibrahim was referring to MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who during the Selangor MCA’s convention on Sunday, had expressed his displeasure at Umno’s cooperation with Pas.
Liow had laid out two possible options, which were to dissolve BN or kick out Umno from the coalition.
Liow had warned that action would be taken if Umno moved towards adopting theocratic politics.
BN, he said, practised moderation and had to continue upholding the principles of inclusion to preserve racial harmony.
Tuan Ibrahim, who is Kubang Kerian member of parliament, said MCA had failed to understand Pas’ struggle.
Pas, he said, was not extreme but a party that championed morality, integrity and development based on Islam.
“I hope the MCA president will visit Kelantan and see for himself how the Tionghua and Siamese communities live in harmony under Pas rule.”
Tuan Ibrahim said such squabbles should end as the opposition bloc should be working together to strengthen itself to provide checks and balances for the nation’s democratic system.
He did not rule out the possibility of a continued cooperation with Umno, as well as the formation of a new political union.
In Kota Baru, Pas secretarygeneral Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan labelled MCA’s threat to Umno and BN as unrealistic, saying that it was as if MCA was afraid of its own shadow.
He said MCA should practise mature politics and be more open.
It, he said, should display a democratic spirit in facing the changing political landscape.
“MCA should not focus on (threatening) Pas just because it is afraid of losing Chinese support.”
Pas, he said, was always open to working with anyone, including MCA, for the sake of the country and its people.