20 October 2021

Cabotage Debate: Lim Guan Eng should handle things professionally; Don’t escape for the third time

Bagan MP, YB Lim Guan Eng needs to stop with the provocative antics when dealing with national issues. As a statesman and senior party leader, he should strive to be professional and handle things with professionalism.

The current challenge for a debate between Lim Guan Eng and Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong is not anything new in history. However, the two prior invitations for debates ended with YB Lim declining to participate.

Back in 2018, Guan Eng rejected the invitation by the Ayer Hitam MP for a debate over the undersea tunnel scandal involving billions of taxpayers’ money. According to him, he did not want to lower his position as the Secretary-General of DAP to debate with Dr Wee Ka Siong who was only the number 2 of MCA (Deputy President).

In the following year, Dr Wee Ka Siong as President of MCA invited Guan Eng, the incumbent Finance Minister for a debate over allocations for Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC, previously TARC). Again, Lim Guan Eng refused, despite boldly politicising the matching grant which has sustained TAR UC’s operations.

It should be noted that this allocation is a special instrument grant which was announced by the former Education Minister, Tun Hussein Onn in 22 August 1972. The matching grant system was a special arrangement for TARC so that education can be affordable for Malaysians who wish to pursue tertiary education.

Back to the present, Guan Eng responded this time by utilising fake WhatsApp screenshots to frame the situation negatively. When the screenshots were exposed, Lim Guan Eng simply brushed it off as a ‘meme’ and claiming it was made for satirical purposes. This should not be the standard for DAP politicians. Misleading the people should never be an option.

Furthermore, Dr Wee has already assured that the debate will be held after the Budget 2022 has been presented. TV3 has also contacted both parties and proposed the debate to be held on 2 November 2021. Following that, Dr Wee has also agreed with the date. So why is Guan Eng still so agitated?

The Rakyat is always watching and judging their elected representatives. If Guan Eng is up for the challenge, then just stay calm and get ready for the debate. I urge Guan Eng to learn to control his conduct and not act purely according to emotions. Enough of talking big, and get yourself to the debate on 2 November 2021.

Mike Chong Yew Chuan
MCA Spokesperson

-MCA Online-