MCA boss condemns anti-Ambiga protests

Describing it as a form of personal harassment, Chua Soi Lek discourages the practice of tit-for-tat politics.

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek has criticised the protests being held outside Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga’s residence.

Speaking to FMT, he said these actions contravened the local council by-laws.

“I will be the first to condemn people putting up shops outside another person’s house. I look at this as personal harassment,” he added.

Chua pointed out that when a leader of a particular organisation or political party made a statement, it was not a personal stand but reflective of the entity which he or she spearheaded.

Similarly, he said, the actions taken against that person should not be personal in nature either.

Chua stressed that while he understood the sentiments of the traders who suffered lossess due to the protest, he however discouraged the practice of “tit-for-tat politics”.

The MCA president was responding to a group of traders who plan to set up stalls outside Ambiga’s house in Bukit Damansara today and tomorrow to recoup the losses incurred during the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28.

Prior to this, a burger stall was set up outside her house and after that, a group of ex-servicemen staged a vulgar exercise routine as well.

Another group, calling itself Gerakan Belia Gagasan 1Malaysia, would launch a campaign outside her house this evening dubbed “Halau Ambiga 1.0.”

These actions drew condemnation from various quarters, including Barisan Nasional leaders with Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor being the latest to join the chorus of critics.

It is learnt that the protests had caused concern among BN component parties as the actions were perceived to have the blessings of Umno and government leaders.

Chua: That’s not true

When this question was posed to Chua, the MCA president denied any government involvement and took a swipe at the opposition for creating the impression.

“No! That’s not true. That’s what DAP and Pakatan [Rakyat] are good at. Anything that goes wrong is BN’s [fault],” he said.

If these protests had been backed by the government, he added, “I am sure DBKL would approve (it)… the police would make don’t know.”

Chua also refused to be drawn into the speculation on whether the continued protests outside Ambiga’s house would lead to an electoral backlash, especially with regard to non-Malay votes.

“I wouldn’t know. In the same way, do you think Bersih can always get the votes?” he added.

Chua said while all agreed with Bersih’s cause for free and fair elections, it was the method of registering these grouses that was questionable.

“I think everybody is for electoral reform. But how you go about it and how it has been hijacked [by the opposition]. Malaysians are no fools,” he added.

The Bersih protest, which saw close to 100,000 people take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur, took a violent twist when the barricades at Dataran Merdeka were breached.

The police relatiated by firing tear gas and water cannons. For several hours, chaos reigned in the city centre as pockets of protesters clashed with the police.

The government blamed Bersih and opposition leaders for the incident, while the former accused the police of using excessive force.