PETALING JAYA: MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon’s tongue-in-cheek remark over the massive flooding in Penang has not gone down well with several opposition members.
Chong, in commenting on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s appeal to the federal government for assistance following the devastating Penang floods, had said that the latter was not able to overcome the problem, despite his “deity-like” status.
“(Despite being) ‘deity-like’… he is not as powerful as he claims to be in solving the flood problem.
“Therefore, don’t fight the heavens, even if you’re a deity,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini during the 64th MCA annual general assembly yesterday.
Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa did not take kindly to Chong’s remarks, especially “when the Penang government is struggling to ensure its folks are protected and sheltered”.
Mujahid, when contacted yesterday evening, could be heard talking to some other people involved in relief efforts at a flood operations centre in Sungai Dua, one of the worst-hit areas.
“The chief minister and the rest of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership, have given our utmost to utilise all government and state agencies.
“(Chong is) trying to make a fool of himself. It is not a timely comment.
“The whole of Penang is in a bad mood because of what happened. Whatever he said does not help to alleviate what Penangites are going through.
“Ask him to come down and see (the situation) for himself instead of making foolish and unhelpful comments,” he told FMT.
Mujahid said the situation was still bad, with floodwaters still rising, and that the operations centre was also not spared.
DAP MP Lim Lip Eng also slammed Chong over the remarks.
He said Chong was among the few Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders who played politics and made fun of the natural disaster that hit not only Penang, but various parts of the northwest region of Peninsular Malaysia.
“I choose to forgive Chong and his heartless peers. We, DAP, will focus 100% on preventing more losses and assist the affected victims with all our resources,” he said in a brief response.
Meanwhile, DAP Socialist Youth’s assistant publicity secretary Muhammad Shakir Ameer described Chong’s words as “a disgusting political tactic to make disparaging remarks over the floods in Penang”.
He said Lim’s appeal to the federal government for assistance, regardless of political affiliation, showed that the Penang government cares about the people and will do whatever it takes to ensure the people of Penang are safe and sound from the catastrophic floods and storm that has displaced hundreds of Penangites and damaged many properties.
“It is unbecoming and politically desperate for a deputy minister as well as a political leader to make a joke out of the heartfelt plea by the Penang chief minister, who is looking out for the people in these trying times.
“As the MCA Youth chief, Chong’s disgusting remarks during the MCA assembly show he has no compassion for the people in general but is only bothered about getting endorsed as a political leader from within his circle,” he said in a statement.
Shakir further stated that if Chong had any compassion and humility, he should immediately apologise to all Penangites for his crude and despicable remarks.
Meanwhile, Chong, in a brief Facebook post written in Mandarin yesterday evening, apologised for offending fellow Penangites with his words.
Chong added that the Penang MCA and its youth wing would be aiding in flood relief efforts.
Chong had appeared to be referring to the deity, or “tokong” term, first coined by Lim’s deputy chief minister Mansor Othman back in 2012.
Back then, Mansor, who is now Nibong Tebal MP, had mentioned Lim’s arrogance, due to his “tokong” status within the Chinese community. -FMT
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