Liow: Malaysia not a failed state

Negative energy from critics can split country, says MCA president

SUNGAI PETANI: Malaysia is a successful country and not a “failed state” as critics claim, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

He spoke out against the “negative energy” from fault-finders, which he said could cause a split in the community and the country.

Malaysia, Liow added, was on the right track to become a developed nation.

“We attract a lot of a countries to our Langkawi International Mari- time and Aerospace (Lima) exhibition. This year, we have 10 firsttime exhibitors.

“Everyone is coming to Malaysia because they regard Malaysia as a role model with a growing economy,” Liow told reporters after visiting the Hock Teik Soo Temple off Jalan Kuala Ketil here yesterday.

Over at SJK(C) Pekan Lama, where he donated RM80,000 for the construction of a covered basketball court, Liow said the Government had always been supportive of multi-stream education in the country.

He said the Government allocated between RM2.5bil and RM3bil a year as salary to teachers in Chinese and Tamil schools.

“The Government is inclusive as evident by multi-stream education under the national education system.

“This is the strength of Malaysia. We are able to produce students who are multilingual through the vernacular education system,” he said.

Liow said Malaysian doctorate student Lam Shu Jie, 26, was a testament to the successful Chinese education system in the country.

Lam, who studies in Australia, caused a buzz in the medical research field when she and her team of researchers discovered a possible solution to the antibioticresistant bacteria commonly known as “superbugs”.

“Malaysia has one of the most comprehensive Chinese education system in the world, after China, Hong Kong and Macau,” he said.

During a lunch meeting with representatives from the Kedah Chinese Guilds and Associations and the Youth Association, Liow urged DAP leader Lim Kit Siang to apologise to the Chinese community for misleading them into believing PAS in the last general election.

“The four former party leaders in Malacca, who left the party recently, have apologised for that.

“Lim should do the same. PAS is now trying to introduce hudud law in Malaysia,” he said.

Speaking at the Bakar Arang MCA division service centre opening ceremony and Chinese New Year dinner at SJK(C) Sin Kwang later, Liow called on MCA division leaders to deliver.

“We are in the Government. We must be in the driver’s seat to drive the growth of this country with other component parties in Barisan Nasional,” he said.