MCA member slams leadership over education policies

The grassroots leader vows to pull out from the party if MCA fails to change the outcome of National Education Blueprint.

PETALING JAYA: The 6,000-strong Dong Zong rally against the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025 today saw the surprise attendance of a grassroots MCA member from Kota Tinggi, Johor.

Breaking ranks with the party leaders who had openly snubbed the rally, the Kota Kecil MCA chairman Tai Foo Him led three busloads of people to support the rally which was held in Padang Timur here.

He told reporters that majority of 110 people who came with him were MCA members.

He drew a mixture of cheers and boos when asked to speak at the rally where some of the protesters had carried banners reading: “Shameless MCA president betrays Chinese education” and “BN MCA, Corrupt and Abuse of Power”.

“I feel ashamed when I saw your placards condemning our party. I think our leaders must change,” he said.

“If they don’t, then maybe it’s about the time for us to change,” he added, without elaborating.

He then cited the example of Black American activism in the 1960s to encourage the crowd to continue the struggle.

Speaking to reporters later, Tai said the MCA leaders did not dare to speak out against the blueprint because they were afraid to lose their government positions.

The branch chairman who joined MCA in 1989 also criticised the party for openly rejecting the rally.

“MCA and the Chinese community are from the same root. Nevermind if you don’t support the rally, but why oppose the rally?” he said.

Tai warned that should MCA failed to change the outcome of the blueprint, he would pull out from the party.

He also said he has done nothing wrong for the party to level a possible disciplinary action against him.