Circus as simple MCA memorandum handover ends in chase

GE14 | A visit by Cheras MCA division secretary Toh Kian Kok and some 20 Cheras residents to the DAP division office today to surrender a memorandum turned into a circus when they discovered a 'present' awaiting them instead.

The fracas began after Toh had led the residents to the office and handed over the memorandum addressed to incumbent Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, which was received by DAP Federal Territories Committee vice-president Janice Choo, demanding Cheras DAP tackle 15 local issues listed on it.

They were then greeted by a group of DAP members who, in turn, mockingly 'presented' them with a mirror and large unflattering signs, causing the visitors to flee, and resulted in a chase ending at a nearby restaurant.

Insinuating that they should look at their own faults first, one of the signs bore the words: “When Pigsy (the pig-nosed character in Journey To The West) looks in the mirror, he will find that neither the one (being reflected) inside nor (the one standing) outside are humans."

While another stated: "Horses do not know how long their faces are."

Running behind Toh were about fifteen DAP members urging him to receive the 'present.'

They ended up in a restaurant 100 metres away, where Toh's group also had signs of their own, which stated "Take the credit," "Liar" "Fraud", "(All) Talk but no action" and "Lousy service."

Order was restored five minutes later when the DAP faction finally departed, leaving their 'gift' behind.

Toh (picture) later held a press conference denouncing DAP's behaviour.

“What they did just now was rude and brutal, I was even concerned about my security.

“Since I asked the reporters to come (today), I won’t just run away. However, I think this place (the restaurant) is safer.”

"Too many problems in Cheras"

Toh, who is married to MCA's prospective election candidate for Cheras Heng Sinn Yee, went on to criticise Tan's performance over the past seven terms.

“The people living in Kuala Lumpur do not have city councillor or county councillor. Who else can they ask for help when the MP doesn’t want to solve the local problems?” he said.

Among the 15 issues highlighted in the memorandum included high water costs, damage to elevators in flats, poor garbage disposal, inadequate housing development and the lack of Chinese-language schools in the area.

Toh cited Kampung Cheras Baru as an example, where he claimed residents lacked proper street lights and road signs. However, he alleged the problem had persisted for over three decades.

He said: “Kampung Cheras Baru has become a foreign workers' village. They came to start their businesses. There are also some factories with no license. These problems have not been solved for the past 30 years.”

He urged Tan to provide explanations for the 15 issues, and added that Cheras MCA would continue sending memorandums the latter's way as there were too many issues facing constituents. 

'Why come here to show us how to do our jobs?'

Cheras DAP campaign manager Lim Kuan Hwa later told the press that they only prepared the 'present' this morning after finding out that the representatives from Cheras MCA would show up today.

“I want them to know their duty and their roles. If they can’t do their jobs well, why do they come here to teach us how to do ours?” he asked, as he was proudly explaining the meaning of his calligraphy. 

In response to Toh’s allegation of the division being “rude and brutal,” Lim blamed the MCA man  instead for causing "public unrest."

“Yes, the situation just was chaotic. However, I think that the submission of the memorandum should be prepared politely, and then submitted to our office, instead of causing public unrest... Even the police came.”

Toh was invited to enter the Cheras DAP service office, but he insisted on handing over the memorandum outside its campaign office. The two venues are across the street from one another.

Meanwhile, Cheras Wanita DAP chairperson Jessica Lew said that the submission of the memorandum was only carried out as a publicity stunt.

“As the election is coming, they come here to gain some publicity, by using such dirty and cheap tactics. They are very shameless." - Mkini