Loke: Previous transport ministers were MCA Chinese, why Umno playing up race now?

 

N SEMBILAN POLLS | DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has questioned the logic behind Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki playing up anti-Chinese sentiments now, when the cabinet makeup is no different from when BN was in power.

Loke pointed out that several previous transport ministers during BN's administration were also Chinese, and asked why there were no claims then that Malays were losing power.

"This is meant to create fear. It is true that today, as the DAP chief, I sit in the cabinet as the transport minister. But ladies and gentlemen, over these past decades, who were the transport ministers?

"The transport minister back then was Lim Liong Sik. Is Lim Malay? Then Chan Kong Choy became transport minister. Is Chan Chinese or Malay? And before this, Liow Tiong Lai was also the transport minister.

"Why was it not a problem when MCA Chinese were part of the government? It was not an issue. But when there are Chinese leaders from DAP in the cabinet, it becomes an issue," he said.

Loke expressed these views during a campaign event over lunch with Malay voters in Chennah.

‘Malicious attack’

He also questioned why BN had previously agreed to govern Negeri Sembilan with Pakatan Harapan if it genuinely believed the coalition would undermine Malay political power.

Loke was responding to Asyraf, who yet again remarked that if Harapan were to come into power, the DAP leader would become menteri besar.

This is despite the Negeri Sembilan constitution clearly requiring the menteri besar to be a Malay Muslim.

"This is malicious speculation aimed at creating a negative and fearful perception that a Harapan victory means a Chinese menteri besar, which is unreasonable," Loke stressed.

He said the claim was just another among a series of attacks against him, aimed at painting him as anti-Malay.

Umno sec-gen Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki

"The opposition is stirring up racial emotions. Throughout the campaign, there have been continuous slanderous statements claiming I interfered with the customary Adat Perpatih laws, and that Malays would lose power if Harapan governs.

"These are all slander - what benefit would I get from interfering in these matters?"

Harapan's multiracial politics

Loke highlighted that Harapan's politics was in sharp contrast to BN, where each party was monoethnic.

He said all Harapan component parties had members of different races, including DAP - despite the perception that it was a Chinese party.

He added that his principle as an elected representative is to assist constituents regardless of race.

Urging voters not to be swayed by racial politics, Loke said a Harapan victory in the Aug 1 polls would allow caretaker menteri besar Aminuddin Harun to continue leading Negeri Sembilan's development. - FMT