As community leaders look on with a touch of cynicism, the politicking between the DAP and MCA rose a notch on Friday, with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng joining the competition to show to the Chinese which was the braver and bolder party to represent them.
But the move may backfire. While the attacks and counter-attacks have been entertaining, most Malaysian Chinese are wearied by the never-ending rhetoric from both sides of the political divide.
“I think the community’s decision to drop the BN began in 2008. What happened in Sarawak was just another step in the same direction, and no doubt, it will be repeated in the next General Election,” Dr PHS Lim (right), a prominent businessman and president of the Malaysian Investors Association, told Malaysia Chronicle.
“So the DAP must stop crowing and the MCA must stop moping. Most of the Chinese are already looking ahead. We know the Malays form more than 50 per cent of the population, and no matter what, the paths of both ethnic groups are intertwined and there must be co-operation and trust or we will end up with the same racially-tensed situation that we are now in. So what is the next step is the main concern, rather than DAP scoring verbal points off MCA and vice-versa. For the normal folk, life is more than just a political game and who has the biggest mouth wins.”
Now that you have the Chinese mandate, what next?
The vote from the Sarawak Chinese, who even shunned Prime Minister Najib Razak’s free-dinner rallies, was confirmation of the community’s rejection of his ruling Umno party.
With 3 million members, Umno is the largest Malay-based party in the country but it is not the only one.
The Islamist and influential PAS is the second largest, while the multiracial PKR also has large pockets of Malay and Bumi members.
“DAP is a Chinese-based party with very few non-Chinese members and leaders. It has convinced the Chinese to let it lead the charge, so it must now be responsible and carry out its promises. The first – where are you going to take community now? Attacking MCA which is already so weakened and belittling your Pakatan partners is not going to help us in any sustainable way, what can it do for us?” Paul Low (below), the president of Transparency International Malaysia, told Malaysia Chronicle. He was speaking in his personal capacity.
“As for the MCA, the message is clear. The leaders must listen and listen well. Otherwise, they won’t be able to pull their party back from the brink. The time for rhetoric from both sides is over. The Chinese have made up their minds. Now they want to see if they were right. DAP has to put its money where its mouth is and MCA must really get cracking. Who finds the right solution will be ultimate winner.”
Mud wrestling - when Perkasa meets DAP
Meanwhile, the latest bone of contention between the MCA and DAP was Umno newspaper Utusan Malaysia's call to Prime Minister Najib to launch a movement to unite the Malays against the latest political threat posed by Chinese.
"Will MCA President Dato Seri Chua Soi Lek dare to ask UMNO to direct its paper Utusan Malaysia to withdraw and apologise to all Malaysians for practicing a form of apartheid by inciting racial segregation and hatred in calling for 1Melayu, 1 Bumi movement?" Guan Eng shot out in a statement released to the media on Friday.
"Just Do It, Chua Soi Lek. Tell UMNO to direct Utusan Malaysia to withdraw and apologise for the 1Melayu, 1Bumi movement or MCA would withdraw from BN."
Guan Eng, who is also the DAP secretary-general, condemned the Utusan’s push to perpetuate racial dominance. But pundits say in his eagerness to spear the MCA and show off to the Chinese community, he may have contradicted his own multiracial claims.
“UMNO’s paper call for 1Melayu, 1Bumi movement is a grievous insult to all Malaysians because it serves to be exclusive and dominate other races to the extent of reducing these Malaysian citizens, including non-Malay bumis from East Malaysia, as 2nd or 3rd-class citizens,” said Guan Eng.
“DAP and PR parties have never fought any elections on the basis of Malay unity, Chinese unity, Iban unity or Kadazan unity. Instead it is BN parties that tries to divide and rule by stressing on Malay unity, Chinese unity or Indian unity and merely paying lip service to bangsa Malaysia. At every election DAP and PR parties have stressed on Malaysian unity.” - Malaysia Chronicle
No comments:
Post a Comment