KUALA LUMPUR – MCA Youth has lashed out at Barisan Nasional (BN) linchpin Umno after its supreme council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam chided MCA’s decision not to support DAP in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
In a video uploaded on TikTok today, MCA Youth deputy chief Mike Chong urged Lokman to consider the issue from MCA’s viewpoint as a party which was previously on the receiving end of DAP’s “jibes and insults”.
“MCA can respect Umno’s decision to hoist the DAP flag, so why can’t Lokman respect our decision (to not support DAP’s candidate in the Kuala Kubu Baharu poll)?
“If DAP continuously insults us, why would MCA help them?
“MCA grassroots are very hurt by DAP’s potty mouth. Like how Umno will not bend the knee to Bersatu (Perikatan Nasional) the same goes for MCA – which will not bow down to DAP.”
Chong also sarcastically suggested that while Lokman might be able to accept such insults directed his way, Umno members are likely to be up in arms if their party was insulted.
He had addressed his video to Lokman, who on April 24 said MCA should decide on its position in the unity government after the party remained firm on its stance to not campaign for DAP in the Kuala Kubu Baharu poll.
Lokman said this when speaking to reporters after the unity government unveiled DAP’s Pang Sock Tao as its candidate for the state seat, which used to be an MCA stronghold before DAP wrested the seat in 2013.
On Lokman’s assertion the unity government is a “team”, a perplexed Chong said although MCA supports the unity government and the prime minister’s leadership, the party has no obligation to its fellow unity administration members.
“Wait a minute, what team is this? In BN, yes we are a team that supports the formation of the unity government. But when was it said or decided that we are one political team?” he questioned.
“Lokman, if you want to say that BN and PH have combined to be one political coalition, I want to ask you which decision (made during a) BN Supreme Council meeting are you referring to? What was the date?”
Following the reveal of the unity government’s candidate, MCA Women head Wong You Fong insisted that the decision to boycott, which received the consensus of party leaders, was made on the grounds of “party principles and dignity”.
In a video recording, MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong had also instructed party members not to help DAP’s campaign in the by-election. He cited certain remarks by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who once described MCA as a party of “towkays”.
Loke, who made these remarks in a recent podcast interview, also said MCA only cared for the interest of the Chinese – whereas DAP cared for all in society.
Wee also referred to previous remarks DAP leaders made against MCA, such as claiming the latter betrayed the Chinese community by not getting Bumiputera quotas abolished and failing to secure government recognition for the Unified Examination Certificate.
At the announcement of Pang’s candidacy, leaders from other parties in BN had been present at the event held at DAP’s service centre in Kuala Kubu Baharu. However, there was no visible sign of any MCA representative sitting alongside those from Umno and MIC.
Formerly foes, BN and PH parties are now allies in the unity government, formed after the 2022 general election when no party won a clear majority to form a government.
However, MCA does not hold any posts in the federal cabinet.
Kuala Kubu Baharu’s former representative, the late Lee Kee Hiong of DAP, defeated MCA by a majority of 1,700 votes in the 2013 contest for the state seat.
She again gained an upper hand of 7,134 votes over MCA in the 2018 general election and went on to win the seat a third time in last year’s state election.
Her death on March 21 necessitates the coming by-election, with nomination day set to take place tomorrow while voters will head to the polls on May 11.
The battle for the seat is expected to mainly be between Pang and Bersatu’s Khairul Azhari Saut, with Muda and Parti Sosialis Malaysia both opting to sit out of the election. – April 26, 2024