‘MCA, UMNO HAVEN’T LEARNT FROM DEFEAT’
People do not want talk based on racial sentiment, says DAP official
MCA and Umno have yet to realise people’s needs under the “Malaysia Baru” concept introduced by Pakatan Harapan, as both parties continue to play up racial sentiments.
DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong said the Barisan Nasional parties had not learnt from their defeat in the 14th General Election (GE14).
MCA and Umno, he said, could not be in a position where Umno carried the Malay sentiment and MCA the Chinese, as this was not the message conveyed by the people in GE14.
“The rakyat want a ‘Malaysia Baru’, which is to develop the nation as ‘anak’ Malaysia, instead of talk based on racial sentiment,” he said after campaigning with PH Balakong candidate Wong Siew Ki at Kampung Baru Sungai Chua, Kajang, yesterday.
Liew was commenting on MCA’s launch of the Balakong Declaration, which aims to reform the party following its poor performance in GE14.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was quoted as saying that the party would play its role as the opposition to build, reform and free itself from past political baggage.
Liew, who is DAP Johor chairman, said opposition parties should compete more intelligently with the new government in regards to policies and ideas, instead of raising racial sentiments.
“The cases faced by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak were also among the reasons for BN and MCA’s loss and, as such, MCA should reject Najib.
“However, four months after losing GE14, Najib continues to be the spokeman for BN.
“MCA could not respond to Najib as it does not have any connection to him (now). And in this by-election, MCA is using its own logo,” he said.
Wong said since the campaigning period for the Balakong byelection kicked-off on Aug 18, she had taken a one-to-one approach with voters in the constituency.
“I had received encouraging response from them,” she said.
“However, the main challenge is to ensure that they go out and vote this Saturday.
“Many of the voters I met are unaware that polling day is on Sept 8.”