MCA does not understand the Constitution, says Kit Siang

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — Lim Kit Siang claimed today that MCA leaders were ignorant over the requirements for the deputy prime minister’s post, saying that there was nothing in the Federal Constitution which barred a non-Malay from being DPM.

Lim’s remarks today come as a response to MCA Youth Chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, who had challenged Lim to answer the question as to whether a Chinese person could even become DPM in the first place.

“Can a Chinese become Deputy Prime Minister? Although this question was posed by the MCA Youth leader and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong as a challenge to me, it shows up MCA true colours when MCA leaders could ask such a question.

“Are top MCA leaders, including Ministers and Deputy Ministers, ignorant of the Malaysian Constitution?

Is there any provision in the Constitution which bars a Chinese or Malaysian of any race or religion from being Deputy Prime Minister? Or for that matter even as Prime Minister?” said Lim in a statement today.

Every deputy prime minister since Malaysia’s independence has been held by a Malay from Umno.

It is understood that Wee’s challenge to the DAP veteran was reported in a Chinese daily today.

Lim (picture) said that Wee’s remarks was an indication of the state of flux MCA was currently in, as MCA ministers and deputy ministers have maintained “monumental silence” when MCA Cabinet posts were taken away from the party and given to other BN component parties.

“No wonder MCA, together with other BN component parties suffered such decisive and humiliating repudiation in the 2008 general elections.

“Clearly, the top MCA leaders have not learnt anything from the 308 political tsunami,” added the DAP adviser.

Much ink has been spilled recently over who de facto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will appoint as deputy prime minister should Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wrest Putrajaya from BN.

Utusan Malaysia claimed two weeks ago that Anwar had promised Lim the post in such an event, prompting a round of denials by opposition leaders.

Anwar later clarified that every coalition leader, regardless of race, had a shot at becoming deputy prime minister, so long as the decision was “made with consensus” among PR component parties. - Malaysian Insider