NEGERI SEMBILAN POLLS | MCA president Wee Ka Siong has clarified details regarding the party’s cooperation with Perikatan Nasional for the Negeri Sembilan polls, following backlash from various quarters over the decision.
Addressing a press conference today, Wee affirmed that the electoral pact between BN and PN is aimed at ensuring continued development under a strong and stable state government in Negeri Sembilan.
Measures undertaken to achieve such a goal, the Ayer Hitam MP assured, will not affect MCA’s principles nor its commitment to bettering the rakyat’s welfare.
“Cooperation does not mean a merger. Instead, each party retains its own ideology, stance, as well as its check-and-balance role.
“MCA’s role in this cooperation is to ensure that the Chinese community, the plural society, vernacular education, and religious freedom have representation and a voice in government,” Wee said.
He added that the cooperation is based on people-centred leadership and does not constitute “unconditional support”, stressing that MCA will oppose any policy that undermines the rights and interests of Malaysia’s plural society.
“What the people need is not endless political squabbling, but a government that can resolve issues involving roads, water supply, business matters, and the rising cost of living.
“The Negeri Sembilan state election gives the people the chance to choose the most capable representatives, ones who are sensitive to the people's issues and able to deliver on their promises,” Wee said.
Concerns raised
His assurances come following an apparent internal dispute over BN’s move to strike an alliance with PN, with MCA Youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung raising concerns over the party working together with PN component member PAS.
She also argued that MCA would be no different than its federal government ally DAP - which it has accused of betraying its values for power - if the plan proceeded.
While Saw has since allegedly been instructed to stay away from campaigning efforts for the Negeri Sembilan election, Wee today took a swipe at Pakatan Harapan and DAP in justifying MCA’s move to establish relations with PN.
“If the unity government is merely a power-sharing arrangement between political parties but fails to carry out reforms and solve the people's problems, then it is nothing but hypocritical unity,” the former transport minister said.
“Harapan’s political choices and power struggles in the past opened up greater space for extreme politics - Negeri Sembilan must not repeat the same mistake.
“DAP's long-standing approach of gaining support through labelling politics and confrontational rhetoric has been a major driver of public sentiment and worsening political polarisation,” he claimed.
He further argued that BN is the only party capable of uniting “moderate forces” while defending the plural society and building a stable government.
Significant damage
Separately, Oriental Daily today quoted MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon, who clarified that the decision to ask Saw to temporarily stop participating in campaign activities was not his personal decision, but an arrangement based on the overall election strategy after discussions within BN.
“BN also unanimously agreed after discussions that the damage caused by this matter was significant, and it could become a target for our opponents to attack us.
“Therefore, regarding incidents that have caused negative impacts, everyone eventually agreed to let her take some time off and rest during this period,” he was quoted as saying.
Chong said the matter drew public attention after Saw publicly shared screenshots of their private conversation.
“This is not about bullying a little sister, nor is it about suppressing anyone,” Chong reportedly said, adding that he was merely carrying out his role to inform her of the party's decision.
He said that, so far, MCA had not taken any further action against Saw, and the party had continued to maintain an open attitude by allowing members to express different views.
What is love?
In another instance of fraying ties between the federal government partners, DAP’s Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan took to Instagram to “poke fun” at MCA by sharing an image of MCA deputy president Mah Hang Soon and PN information chief Annuar Musa.
The picture, which depicted Mah and Annuar posing together while attempting to make a heart shape with their hands, prompted Syahredzan to pen several poetic lines on the supposed “love” between MCA and PAS.
“Love, at first hidden and shy, now blooms without embarrassment or shame. Desire comes cradled by power; what else could it be if not love, and love alone?” Syahredzan said in the caption for his post.
The image is believed to have been captured during the Negeri Sembilan election’s nominations process earlier today.
The cooperation between BN and PN also comes amid the decline of good relations between PAS and Bersatu, with the latter accusing PN chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar of unilaterally deciding to enter an electoral pact with BN and sidelining Bersatu from seat negotiations.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has since hinted at the party’s possible exit from PN, while expressing his disappointment with PN’s leadership for supposedly denying Bersatu's rights as a coalition member. - Mkini
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