Mixed response to Rahman’s Bersih warning

THE warning by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan that companies which support or fund Bersih will be banned from getting government contracts drew mixed response from a Chinese community chief and a trade leader.

While the former believes that politics and business should not be mixed, the latter thinks money meant to support Bersih can be better used to help the needy.

According to a report in China Press yesterday, Hua Zong (Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia) president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah deemed Abdul Rahman’s remark as inappropriate.

He said Bersih had nothing to do with government projects, adding that politics and business should not be lumped together.

“Companies which won government contracts do so after fulfilling the set criteria. They should not be blacklisted for supporting Bersih,” he opined.

However, he stressed that Hua Zong does not encourage the public to join any Bersih rally.

“The initial intention of Bersih was good but it has now been turned into a political platform. (I’m) worried they (Bersih rallies) can cause misunderstanding and jeopardise racial harmony.”

SME Association of Malaysia vicepresident Datuk Sim Eng Peng said while he admitted Bersih rallies were peaceful, they still caused traffic congestion, affected the country’s economy, and impacted negatively on SMEs.

Sim, who is Cheras MCA chief, said it is a company’s right how it wants to use its profit but it should not be used to help Bersih.

“They could donate the money to organisations that need aid more, or the underprivileged.”