‘BN must represent all races’

Wee: MCA will also ensure coalition practises moderation

PETALING JAYA: MCA will continue to uphold the spirit of the Federal Constitution and defend the values of multiculturalism and moderation, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic).

The MCA president said these principles have always been MCA’s political pathway since the party was founded, when fighting for the nation’s independence, until today.

“Therefore, whether to leave or stay put in Barisan Nasional, or on the collaboration between Umno and PAS, MCA will continue to uphold the above principle.

“When I was running for the party presidency in October and became the party’s president since November last year, I have clearly stated MCA’s stand, which is for Barisan to be a political coalition that represents all races.

“We are always doing our best to ensure that Barisan practices multiculturalism and moderation so that it will not head towards becoming a political coalition that fights only for the interest of a single religion or race,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Dr Wee said the cooperation between Umno and PAS must also be accountable to all Malaysians as well as adhere to the principles that both the parties signed in their charter last weekend.

The principles include abiding by and upholding the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the country, Islam as the official religion of the Federation, preserve the special rights of Malays and Bumiputeras as well the rights of other races, safeguard Bahasa Melayu as the national language and guarantee the protection of Malaysia’s multiracial society.

The other would be to provide constructive suggestions to ensure inclusive development policy, and a balance or equitable distribution that will ensure social justice regardless of race and religion.

Dr Wee said the cooperation between Umno and PAS “must not pose any threats to the country’s existing secular system”.

He said MCA will not tolerate and shall not waver in asserting a definite and firm stance if the collaboration deviated from the multicultural secular system enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Dr Wee pointed out the 2018 electoral roll showed that there are 69 constituencies that make up more than 40% of Chinese and Indian voters.

That, together with 31 seats in Sarawak and 25 in Sabah brings it to 125 seats whose voters’ demography reflected the nation’s multiculturalism and multi-religious spirit.

“Therefore, it is only by defending the spirit of multiculturalism and moderation, will the country continue to enjoy peace and harmony.

“Not only will a political party that promotes singularity go against the country’s multiculturalism, it is also impossible for it to be the ruling government and will eventually be despised by its people,” he said.

Last Saturday, both Umno and PAS signed the joint charter, marking their official political cooperation between the two largest Malay-based parties in Malaysia.

The charter was signed during the two-day Himpunan Penyatuan Ummah and was witnessed by leaders and thousands of supporters from both parties.