Lim was commenting on a report in the MCA-owned paper which claimed that DAP’s attack against the party was an “an attempt to divert the community’s attention from the various breakthroughs the MCA has achieved since Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek became party president in March last year.”
The report also claimed that Lim had had challenged Dr Chua to step down if he failed to gain support from the Chinese community during the by-election.
Lim (picture) said that he had only criticized Chua after MCA’s continued attack against PAS during the Tenang by-election and allegations that DAP would not be able to stop the Islamist party form an Islamic state.
The DAP veteran pointed out that Umno has also been using MCA’s fear tactics while campaigning for Malay voters.
“In the Tenang by-election campaign, Umno leaders have been telling Malay voters that PAS has betrayed Islamic values and principles after teaming up with DAP in PR.
“While MCA leaders have been telling the opposite lie, that the DAP had sold out its principles and objectives to PAS in supporting hudud and Islamic state,” he said.
He said The Star must be professional in its reports and not “serve the vested interests of its political masters.”
The MCA is looking to reverse its political fortunes in the Tenang by-election by seeking to build up the momentum of growing Chinese support from the Galas by-election to the backyard of Dr Chua.
The senior Barisan Nasional (BN) party lost more than half of its parliamentary seats in Election 2008 and has been trying to regain support and remain the main Chinese-based party in the ruling coalition.
The mixed-race Tenang state seat, within the Labis federal seat once held by Dr Chua, has a 39 per cent Chinese electorate and is perfect for him to show that the MCA can bring in the votes for BN ahead of snap polls expected this year.
The senior Barisan Nasional (BN) party lost more than half of its parliamentary seats in Election 2008 and has been trying to regain support and remain the main Chinese-based party in the ruling coalition.
During the campaign, MCA has been highlighting PAS’s Islamic state agenda and incoherent ideologies of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties.
PAS candidate Normala Sudirman has also come under attack from the MCA for her refusal to shake hands with men, citing Islamic principles.
The Tenang seat fell vacant when incumbent Sulaiman died last December 17 due to complications with diabetes. A total of 14,753 are registered to vote in the state seat, including 18 postal voters.
The northern Johor seat comprises three Felda settlements, five Malay kampong, three Chinese new villages, 25 modern residential areas, one government quarters, four Indian estates and two Orang Asli villages.
Malays make up 47.5 per cent of the voters, Chinese 39 per cent, Indians 12 per cent and others 1.3 per cent.
BN won the seat in the 2004 general election with a majority of 5,517 votes but this was cut to 2,492 in Election 2008.
Polling day began this morning and the election commission (EC) is expected to announce final results by 9pm at the Labis municipal hall. - Malaysian Insider
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