MCA in BN to check against DAP’s racial hegemony 

It is no surprise that DAP leaders and haters are firing at MCA for staying with BN now that there is no consensus to a dissolution of BN. 

MCA acknowledges the need to undertake the role of check and balance against emerging racial hegemony as a result of the DAP-Pakatan failure to honour their election promises bordering along racial demands. Of late, Lim Guan Eng’s “declaration of war” remark, and Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming’s “Taliban” remark - both eschewing Malay-versus-non-Malay sentiments in response to the UMNO-PAS cooperation have also escalated racial tensions necessitating closer interracial interactions and engagements.

MCA subscribes to BN’s code of consensus building and unity in diversity cultivated since independence.

Hence, MCA will not abandon BN to ensure that the original spirit and intent of  Alliance and our Federal Constitution remain to protect the solid bedrock of multicultural Malaysia, whereby the rights of all Malaysian citizens, as protected by the highest law of the land, will not be usurped away (overtly or covertly) or undermined by any potential UMNO-PAS cooperation.

BN as an Opposition, must continue to represent the values which once held us high in people’s regard – those of diversity and consensus, and certainly not a gradual progression towards a Malay-Muslim hegemony, or race-bait sabre rattling which is foreseeable in the future under an UMNO-PAS tie-up as a result of DAP’s continued fanning of race-hate sentiments or adversity.

The Pakatan pact, although a multiracial composition, is veering towards recognising Malay sentiments as supreme over laws and election manifesto promises. BN without MCA and MIC will veer towards a singular race-based entity if left unchecked. This will play straight into Pakatan’s hands of race-baiting to ensure the Chinese continue to vote for DAP and their alliances as a result of race provocations by the ilk of Dato’ Seri Nazri Aziz and Lim Lip Eng who are buddies in reality.

Nevertheless, before DAP Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng derides MCA as “fork-tongue”, the Rocket should look at its own backyard. DAP failed to ensure that its long cherished “Malaysian Malaysia” was able to take off despite repeated and continuous promises of a non-racial level playing field in each and every general election.

For example:

1)       The Pakatan government had chosen to  organise a race based “Congress on the Future of the Bumiputeras and Nation 2018” instead of looking after the economic well-being of all Malaysians.

2)       PH’s unpopular third national car project is again seen to be an enrichment programme for “cronies” in the name of Bumiputera entrepreneurship in light of “Proton’s” losses.

3)       Immediately after PH loss at the Semenyih by-election, Economic Affairs Minister Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali played the “race-card” by reaffirming that the PH government “must not hesitate in fulfilling our promises, especially on the Malay and bumiputera agenda, which is an integral part of the national agenda (Malaysiakini, 3 Mar 2019)” and disregarded that their losses were a result of unfulfilled election manifesto promises and bad economic management.

4)       Thereafter, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad claimed that state investment arm Khazanah  NAsional was established to help the Bumiputeras despite being refuted by founders and the former managing director of Khazanah, Tan Sri Sheriff Mohd. Kassim. This is again another “racial card” causing racial tensions played by the Pakatan government despite DAP’s promises of a non-racial level playing field under “Malaysia Baru.”

5)       Lately, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry approved another 36 new Bumiputera companies to hold AP licences from 128 companies to 164, and also removed the limits on the number of APs approved annually. This is again a return to a race-based policy of which DAP had promised to eradicate when in power.

All these return of race-based decisions and policies have increased the racial tension, tempers and raw nerves amongst the non-Bumiputeras and Bumiputeras necessitating a careful and cautious management of the interracial relationship of our nation.

Under these circumstances, MCA chooses to walk the path of engagement and is working towards moderation by seeking the common grounds to walk on and diffuse racial tensions instead of causing further animosity and divide along political parties or race-based rhetoric.
  
Senator Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker
MCA Vice President

-MCA online-