Chinese will split if Umno, PAS join forces, says ex-MCA chief

Former MCA president Tan Sri Dr Chua Soi Lek says says in politics, the possible becomes the impossible and the impossible becomes possible. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, June 11, 2015.

If PAS and Umno were to collaborate and work together, it will be a challenge to the Chinese, said former MCA president Tan Sri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

He said that if the two parties could unite, then the Chinese would be split all over.

“MCA, DAP, Pakatan Rakyat, PPP, SUPP, you name it, they have it,” he told reporters today when commenting on the developments at the PAS 61st Mmuktamar last week that saw PAS putting forward a motion to cut ties with Pakatan Rakyat ally, DAP.

Dr Chua said the people, who had been very supportive of PAS and DAP, including the Chinese who had held up signs of “I love Mohamad Sabu” and “I love PAS”, had now discovered that the two were no longer the same party.

“After that, you notice that PAS is not the party you had been talking about, and that DAP is not the party that you think is the best."

Dr Chua also said PAS members in Penang, who were holding politically appointed positions, must tender their resignations like what their former deputy president Mohamad Sabu had done.

"For PAS, it has created a challenge to its own party members, having made a decision to break off with DAP.

"If they do not resign like what Mat Sabu had done in Penang, the party’s dignity, political ethics, integrity will become an issue, especially when DAP had never stopped issuing statements that can be considered as provocations.

“(Chief Minister Lim) Guan Eng has said 'PAS is not needed in Penang, they can resign, it does not affect us (the state government)’. So I am shocked that there are still PAS members holding on to their positions in Penang,” he said, adding that from what was happening, the people could already make their own conclusions on both parties.

Dr Chua said even the PAS elected reps in the Selangor government should think whether they should resign or not.

“If you ask me, they should… to respect the decision made in the muktamar, which is PAS’s highest forum.

“If they don’t, people will question the integrity of PAS, not just a matter of honour.”

On the possibility of PAS working with Umno, Dr Chua said he had always said, even before the 2013 general election, that the two parties would ultimately work together.

“In politics, they say the possible becomes the impossible and the impossible becomes possible.

“In politics, you find people who can’t work together suddenly embrace each other and kiss each other.

“And I have said this before the election that this is a great possibility,” he said, adding that people did not believe him then and laughed at him.

Dr Chua said there would be no harm for both parties, which were traditional political enemies, to work together “as long as they achieve a consensus”.

“Because I am sure that Umno is always sensitive. Being chairman and president of both Umno and Barisan Nasional, (the prime minister) is sensitive to the aspirations, expectations and sensitivities of the non-Muslims.

"BN has been in government for so long that it knows what the non-Muslims likes and dislikes. PAS probably doesn’t know.

“So hopefully, when PAS joins Umno, the latter will help reduce some of the sensitive things PAS talks about.”

- TMI