MCA and DAP engage in 'circle of shame' duel

 

MALACCA POLLS | MCA's opening move for its Malacca campaign has continued to focus on "political frogs" and saw the party attacking top Malacca DAP officials for their backing of Idris Haron and his three allies.

In retort, DAP has accused MCA of fraternising with "the grandmaster of frogs".

On Tuesday, MCA president Wee Ka Siong drew attention to the fact that Malacca DAP chief Tey Kok Kiew and Kerk Chee Yee were both present at a press conference alongside Idris and the three others on Oct 4.

At the time, Idris and the three others had explained during the press conference that they were withdrawing support for incumbent chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali.

In a Facebook post, Wee drew red circles around Tey and Kerk's faces to underscore a point that they were once supportive of "political frogs".

"DAP now says they reject political frogs. But on Oct 4, they wanted to form a new government with the political frogs.

"When attempting to seize power, they support frogs. When begging for votes, they say they reject frogs. This is no less than double standards.

"Would (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng and Tey care to explain themselves?" asked Wee.

Moral high ground

Following the fall of the BN-led Malacca government, Pakatan Harapan's presidential council agreed to field Idris and Nor Azman Hassan, who were both sacked from Umno for withdrawing support for Sulaiman.

However, DAP publicly stated that they objected to this decision but was out-voted in the presidential council.

In a statement, MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker accused DAP (leaders) of attempting to project a moral high ground but the fact that all of Malacca DAP's lawmakers flanked Idris showed that they were hypocrites.

"The picture depicts reality. It's not easy for DAP to hide. Enough. Stop acting," he said.

 DAP central committee member Wong Kah Woh joined the fray by showing photographs of MCA leaders accompanied by "frogs". Like Wee, Wong circled several faces of defectors.

One photograph showed Wee in a car alongside former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and current International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali.

Both Muhyiddin and Azmin defected from Harapan last year.

Another photograph depicted MCA deputy president Dr Mah Hang Soon alongside Hee Yit Foong, who, as the Jelapang assemblyperson, defected from DAP to help BN form the Perak government in 2009.

'Bunch of hypocrites'

Wong said that in both 2009 and 2020, MCA had sought the help of defectors to get back in government, while DAP never did so. In view of this, Wong said Wee did not qualify to criticise the DAP.

"I want the MCA to know that everyone has a right to criticise 'political frogs' except MCA.

"History has shown that MCA fraternises with the grandmaster of frogs. Both Wee and his deputy, through the support of 'frogs', toppled legitimately elected governments and both became part of the executive," he said.

Wee is currently the transport minister while Mah, who is unelected, is currently the deputy education minister.

Mah was a member of the Perak state executive council after the mid-term change of government in 2009.

Wong said DAP had consistently opposed accepting defectors while MCA cannot claim the same.

"MCA must understand that DAP has principles. We will never compete with you for last place. We object to political frogs, unlike MCA (leaders) who are a bunch of hypocrites," he said. - Mkini