Kit Siang: Umno and MCA playing contradicting race cards

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has accused BN parties Umno and MCA of making contradicting and racially-charged statements in their criticism of Pakatan Harapan.

Lim referred to two articles published in theStar Online yesterday – one on prime minister’s press secretary Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad accusing him of being the “top dog” of Harapan, and another on MCA publicity spokesman Ti Lian Ker making the same claim - but instead naming Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Which is which? Is there a better example to illustrate the schizophrenia in BN, with Umno and MCA declaring the very opposite in public?

“Umno leaders and propagandists are trying to incite Malay communalism and hatred by disseminating the lie that Mahathir and other Malay leaders... are just my stooges and puppets; while MCA is trying to stir up Chinese racialism and chauvinism by accusing me (of being) a stooge and puppet of Dr Mahathir – or the former stooge and puppet of Anwar,” the Gelang Patah MP said in a statement today.

Lim rubbished both claims, saying Mahathir and him were neither each other’s puppets nor puppeteers.

“I went to detention under the (now abolished) Internal Security Act (ISA); was hauled to court for defending the best interests of Malaysians and future generations; and my son Lim Guan Eng was detained under the ISA, imprisoned and disqualified as an MP for defending the honour and dignity of an underaged Malay girl.

“We stood our ground without compromise even in the 22 years when Mahathir was the prime minister of Malaysia. Why should I be Mahathir’s puppet now?

“Similarly, at the advanced age of 92 and after 22 years as prime minister, why should Mahathir be my puppet?” he asked.

Lim said the statements of Umno and MCA reflected the “rank racism and unprincipled opportunism” in both parties, which negatively affected Malaysian nation-building.

“Are Umno and MCA leaders committed to building a Malaysian nation where all citizens share in the ownership of the country, regardless of race, religion or region, or are they trying to isolate the different races into their separate communal compartments?

“Where is the Bangsa Malaysia (Malaysian Race) concept of Vision 2020 or the 1Malaysia concept when Najib Abdul Razak became prime minister in 2009?” Lim asked. - Mkini