MCA adopts its ‘war song’
Mandarin tune ‘No One Can Bully me’ will lead the way in polls
BENTONG: A resident at Kampung Baru Chamang broke into a song when she saw two VIPs approaching her house.
“I was born and bred here. This is my country. I care about this place, and I will protect this place. No one can bully her,” Mok Kam Kiew, 53, sang with gusto.
It was a refrain from a Mandarin tune originating from Taiwan titled No One Can Bully Her.
The song has been adopted by MCA as its “war song” for the sense of patriotism it evokes.
Mok’s enthusiasm led the two VIPs – Bentong MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and his predecessor of the seat, Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek – into joining her in belting out the number.
Liow’s wife Datin Seri Lee Sun Loo and other party members who were at the walkabout yesterday also sang along.
Mok praised Liow as a capable people’s representative.
“He is approachable and he always helps the people,” she said.
Lim, who is a former MCA deputy president, won Bentong in a by-election in 1989.
He passed the baton to Liow in 1999. Liow is now defending the seat in his bid to be fifth-term MP.
During the walkabout yesterday, Lim, Liow and MCA’s candidate for the Bilut state seat Poo Mun Hoong greeted residents in the Chinese village.
Motorists and motorcyclists also stopped to have a chat with them. They were happy to see their old representative Lim again.
Speaking to reporters later, Lim described the progress of Bentong as “fantastic”.
“This is why I am very relaxed today.
“I passed the baton to the right person,” he said.
Lim said it was important to have Chinese representation in the Government, instead of shouting for publicity outside but with no achievement made.
“It takes a lot of discussion and coordination by our Chinese representatives to solve the people’s problems,” he said.
He said opposition leaders Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and the late Karpal Singh were detained under the Internal Security Act by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is leading Pakatan Harapan today.
“After they were released, they were in Bentong to campaign for the Opposition during the 1989 by-election,” he said.
“But the Opposition has forgotten what Dr Mahathir did to them.”
Liow, who is MCA president, said Dr Mahathir’s return to politics would affect the harmony in our multiracial society.
“The Chinese community thinks Lim Kit Siang will be able to control Dr Mahathir, but that is mission impossible,” he said.
On complaints by overseas voters that they could not mail back their votes in time, Liow urged the Election Commission to look into the issue.
“It needs to put things right,” he said.