AYER HITAM — Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin has called upon all Malaysians especially the Chinese to never give MCA a single vote because the party cannot be trusted.
“In GE13, MCA had announced that if Malaysian Chinese do not give them a mandate, they would never join the Cabinet.
“But even after the people rejected them, they quietly joined and broke their promise. Do you think we can trust them?” he said at the Ceramah Kebangkitan Rakyat held at Ayer Hitam tonight.
Then MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek led the party during the last general elections in 2013, declared that the party would quit the Cabinet if they performed worse than the 2008 polls.
The party later won only seven parliamentary and 11 state seats, which saw its leaders resigning from all Cabinet and senior government positions.
An Extraordinary General Meeting in February 2014 under the leadership of Dr Chua’s successor Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai voted overwhelmingly to accept all government posts, including as ministers.
Daim gave his speech while seated on a plastic chair on the stage.
“Has MCA asked about 1MDB? Has MCA questioned the government’s policies? But instead they call Mahathir an old horse.
“We need people that can think..like Ayer Hitam candidate and a personal friend of mine, Liew Chin Tong who would look after all of you.
“I say let us have an old man that can think instead of MCA that cannot think for themselves,” he said.
The ceramah brought together people of all age group including parents who brought their children along.
Shortly before the ceramah began, volunteers also distributed Pakatan Harapan t-shirts for free which caused a minor commotion among participants as each wanted to get one for themselves.
As the chairs prepared were quickly filled up, many others listened from the sidewalks despite the seating inadequacy.
Daim also took the opportunity to mingle with the crowd by shaking the hands of as many well-wishers and taking selfies with them before departing to catch a plane. – MALAY MAIL
In Ayer Hitam, Liew gets Malay star power as reinforcement
Former minister Daim Zainuddin tonight went on the stump for Liew Chin Tong, the first DAP candidate he campaigned for since coming out for Pakatan Harapan.
While Daim tailored some of his message for the Chinese community by targeting the MCA, a large part of his speech touched on Malay institutions.
Daim, who appeared tired and had to speak while sitting on a chair, spoke of the alleged abuses in Felda and Tabung Haji.
“Let us end Umno’s life, vote Harapan so that we can renew this country,” he told the 1,500 supporters who turned up at the rally in Bandar Baru Ayer Hitam, located within the state seat of Semarang.
PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli also attended the gathering.
Daim had previously campaigned for Bersatu and PKR candidates. He was at a Malacca Harapan rally yesterday but did not speak.
The Malay vote will be key to Liew’s survival in Ayer Hitam.
With saturated Chinese support in Yong Peng, Liew needs substantial swing among the Malays to unseat MCA incumbent Wee Ka Siong.
During the ceramah, a special video message from Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad was played.
In the video, Mahathir also appeared to target Malay voters.
“The people of Ayer Hitam, especially those who voted BN the last time, I would like to tell you that the BN and Umno today is not the BN and Umno of the past,” he said.
Mahathir also emphasised that Liew is someone who can also serve the Malay community.
“He speaks fluent Malay and will serve all people. He will not neglect the Malays in Ayer Hitam.
“I am confident that he will give his best service. So vote for Liew as Harapan’s candidate,” he said.
The parliamentary seat comprises 58 percent Malay voters, 38 percent Chinese voters and four percent Indian voters.
It includes the Chinese-majority state seat of Yong Peng, which DAP won with a 2,475-vote majority and the state seat of Semarang, which Umno won by a landslide with an 8,075-vote majority. – MKINI
Daim’s final decision to back Pakatan made on Nomination Day
MUAR: Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin says that his decision to back Pakatan Harapan was made on Nomination Day.
He said that the disqualification of PKR’s Batu and Rantau parliamentary candidates from GE14 was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” for him.
Batu incumbent Tian Chua was disqualified from contesting due to a RM2,000 fine, even though he was allowed to contest in GE13 over a fine of the same amount.
The Rantau candidate, Dr S. Streram, was not allowed into the nomination centre for not having an Election Commission pass, which he claimed was denied to him.
Daim also said that he only learnt about his expulsion from Umno from media reports.
On Friday night, both Daim and former Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz spoke at a Pakatan ceramah in Melaka.
On Saturday (May 5), Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor confirmed that the party had expelled the two former Umno ministers for colluding with the Opposition.
Tan Sri Rais Yatim, who has allegedly been critical of the government, will be facing disciplinary action. – ANN
MALAY MAIL / MKINI / ANN
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