MCA, DAP spar over Bahasa Malaysia fluency

JOHOR POLLS | MCA and DAP are at odds again amid the Johor polls, this time over the Bahasa Malaysia fluency of their candidates.

This was after Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong (above, left) touted that his party’s candidates had better multicultural credentials, claiming they could speak the national language better than MCA candidates.

“According to information, at least 10 out of 15 MCA candidates are unable to speak the national language fluently without reading from a script.

“In contrast, all of DAP’s candidates have better multilingual skills and the ability to ask questions in the state assembly,” Liew had said in a statement.

Liew argued that DAP candidates were better than MCA in every aspect.

MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon (above, right) denied Liew’s assertion, accusing him of being bankrupt of ideas for zooming in on the language skills of MCA candidates.

“Of course it is untrue. Liew having to issue a statement to criticise the language skills of MCA candidates during the election shows that he has no meaningful issues to raise,” Chong shot back during a press conference in Johor Bahru today.

Liew, in his statement earlier today, said MCA had long argued that their candidates were of better quality compared to DAP’s and has continued to perpetuate this argument in the current Johor election campaign.

“The fact is, after the last three general and party elections, MCA leaders have regressed from one generation to another,” Liew claimed.

MCA is contesting in 15 seats while DAP has fielded candidates in 14.

DAP, representing Pakatan Harapan, is facing MCA, representing BN, in all of the 14 seats they are contesting. MCA is also facing Muda in one seat.

Campaigning for the Johor polls kicked off on Feb 26. Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12. - Mkini