MCA: Premature to make ‘kingmaker’ claim

MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan ( pix) said it is too early now to say who will be the kingmaker in the 14th general election (GE14).

“Elections are full of uncertainties, no one can make a conclusion this early,” he said, adding that what is important is for people to look at things from a practical point of view.

On PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s recent remarks that his party will win enough seats to be the kingmaker and help form the next government, with the hope that the people will choose Islamic governance, Ong said Malaysia is a moderate and liberal country where the universal world view is accepted.

Anyone who walks down the path of religious extremism will find their “market” getting smaller and smaller, he said.

“I’m not targeting anyone ... (but) anyone who takes this path (should know that) it is a path of no return,” Ong was quoted as saying in a report in China Press yesterday.

He said what Malaysians, particularly the younger generation, want is a liberal country with healthy development, adding that “whoever can fulfil that will be the kingmaker”.

Ong, who is the second International Trade and Industry minister, told reporters this on Tuesday after the launch of Air Liquide’s first Smart Innovative Operations centre for the Southeast AsiaPacific region in Kuala Lumpur.

While pointing out that the era of religious extremism is over, he said: “You need the support of all the races to succeed (in the elections)”.

“Each constituency has its unique racial composition. If you can win the backing of only one race, I don’t think it is a big achievement”.

On the MCA’s prospects in GE14, he said the party hopes to retain the seven parliamentary and 12 state seats it currently holds, while also eyeing another 20 or more parliamentary seats.