MCA slams Bersatu over VP speech on protecting party gains

PETALING JAYA: MCA has lambasted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia for a speech by its vice president Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abd Rahman, in which he said the party’s gains must be protected “by hook or by crook”.

MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said Abdul Rashid’s statement was tantamount to political endorsement of the party using government resources and political patronage to stay in power.

“If anything, the matter should have been promptly reported to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for immediate action.

“It's absurd to think that a call by a vice-president from the floor of Bersatu’s AGM would set the agenda for a Cabinet level discussion.

“The Cabinet should be discussing national issues and the bigger agenda of our economic collapse since the Pakatan Harapan government took over,” he said in a statement.

On Sunday (Dec 30), Abdul Rashid said in his winding-up speech that gains by the party must be protected at all costs – even if it meant granting contracts to division chiefs.

The former Election Commission chairman also said the party had to win the next general election by whatever means possible, by hook or by crook.

Ti said this was in direct contrast to the promises made to Malaysians, who voted out Barisan Nasional on allegations of such malpractices.

“His statement must be countered politically on an intra-party level and within Pakatan on a party-to-party level, provided, of course, it is contrary to the values of his party and Pakatan.

“It is unclear if this is so, given the standing ovation he received for the new political ‘travesty’ of the New Malaysia. His statement should not set the Cabinet agenda,” Ti said.

He also called for Abdul Rashid to be sacked or removed from heading the Election Reform Committee in, line with DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang’s insistence in targeting enablers of kleptocracy.

Ti added that the correct political response would be an immediate meeting of the Pakatan Presidential Council to repudiate Abdul Rashid’s statements.- Star