PKFZ, where Umno is 'stupid' and MCA is 'deceitful'

While not unexpected, the prosecution of former MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy will compound the already weak perception the public has of the party and further erode its credibility with Malaysians.

"Of course what happened to Chan Kong Choy and Ling Liong Sik will affect MCA's image which is already badly tainted by having a president whose morals are less than exemplary. Due to this, it is not surprising for him to make such a comment," PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar toldMalaysia Chronicle.

Mahfuz was referring to current MCA president Chua Soi Lek, who was at the centre of a sex DVD scandal in 2007. Soi Lek had brushed off reporters who asked if the cheating charges preferred against Chan and Ling would dent the party, which is already struggling to stem a massive loss in voter confidence.

Not only did Soi Lek insist there was "no impact", he did not feel the need to apologize to the people for his party's scandals. His stance was perceived as arrogant and sharply rebuked by the community.

"Never before in the nation’s 53-year history has a Cabinet Minister been accused of such grand corruption or of misleading the Prime Minister (Chan’s case) or the entire Cabinet (in the case of Ling) resulting in the country’s worst financial scandal – whether from Umno, MIC, Gerakan or the Sabah andSarawak component parties of the ruling coalition," DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said in a statement.

Of "stupid" Umno leaders and "cheating" MCA leaders

Political watchers also said that apart from MCA, Prime Minister Najib Razak has also damaged the image of his own Umno party. He is perceived as using the MCA leaders as stooges to cover the corruption of his own Umno colleagues.

Umno is the boss in the BN coalition and no major deal or decision in the country can be sealed without its approval. Chan and Ling were former ministers who had executed the Port Klang Free Zone or PKFZ project. It was mooted by former Umno president and prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and implemented mostly during the time of Mahathir's successor Abdullah Badawi.

Initially slated to cost around RM1.8 billion ringgit, massive overpricing led to costs overruns. An external auditor report has warned that if debts were revamped soon, the fiasco could end up costing taxpayers RM12.5 billion.

Like most Malaysians, Mahfuz doubted that it was so "easy" for Mahathir and Badawi to be cheated by the MCA duo. Most pundits believe that a deal of sorts had been struck whereby the MCA leaders had been forced to take the fall and absolve the two Umno leaders.

"It also gives a very bad impression of Umno leaders. If really it is true the Chinese leaders can deceive the Mahathir and Badawi administrations, then it clearly shows that there are stupid Umno leaders and that there are cheating MCA leaders," said Mahfuz.

"These two type of leaders can only be found in BN. The rakyat or citizenry must reject BN in toto without further ado."

Racial favoritism and discrimination

Another Pakatan leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau said Najib lacked foresight when he proceeded to prosecute the two MCA men without taking any action against the Umno leaders involved.

Not only would it further antagonize the Chinese community against Umno and drive them away from MCA, but it would also deepen the sense of racial favoritism towards the Malays and discrimination against the others.

Boo also pointed out the timing of the charges against Chan which take place amid the Merlimau and Kerdau by-elections. Malays form the majority of the electorate in both seats while the Chinese populations are only a small fraction.

"For Chua Soi Lek to say that the charges faced by Chan and Ling have no impact on MCA is clearly a fallacy. It has a bad impact on MCA and it also affects the image of the Chinese in general, giving an impression that the Chinese are inclined to be deceitful. Many Chinese will be very angry with these charges faced by the MCA leaders," Dr Boo, the Skudai assemblyman, told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Although these MCA leaders have not yet been convicted, there is evidence to show that there are irregularities involved during their tenure." - Malaysia Chronicle