Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng has criticised the Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia (Hua Zong) for being ‘confused' about its role in politics as it has accepted an invitation to attend the MCA presidential council meetings.

NONE Lim said Hua Zong's president Pheng Yin Huah's ( left ) decision to attend the MCA meeting showed that he was confused about "active participation in politics and partisan politics".

"If they want to be independent, they should not actively get involved in partisan politics, especially in a political party," Lim chided the federation, in a press conference at Komtar, Penang, today.

"You must be above political parties, but should be actively engaged and interested in politics, because it affects you and the country," added Lim, after issuing allocations to religious and Chinese national schools today.

Lim was responding to the invitation by newly minted MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek to the chiefs of major Chinese organisations to join the party's presidential council meetings.

The organisations invited include the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Hua Zong and Malaysian Seven Major Clans Association.

Dr Chua added it was important for leaders at all levels to stabilise and unite the party after the election last month.

Earlier Pheng had stressed in a press statement that the Chinese guilds and associations would not interfere in MCA affairs despite the invitation to attend the presidential council meetings on a need basis.

However, today, in an immediate response to Lim's concerns, Pheng stated that the federation would still attend the meeting as observers.

NONE Lim (right ) said Pheng's acceptance of the invitation by MCA will not be perceived as neutral and independent."

However, he agreed that participating in dialogues with the MCA and other political parties is allowed but participating in their presidential council or supreme council meetings is wrong as they (the federation) are not party leaders or members.

"This would affect your independence and would not gain (the) confidence (of others) that you are independent," he told the federation.

Lim said that the federation's actions will go against its effort to consolidate civil society and urged its president to withdraw its decision to attend the MCA's meetings.

"If the federation insists on attending the MCA meeting as part of the MCA, the DAP will review their relationship with the federation for willing to be seen as a tool and puppet of the BN."

Lim also questioned whether the decision had the consent of all the members and the federation.

He added that the DAP would feel disappointed if the federation has obtained a consensus from the members for their participation in MCA's meeting.

AUDIO l 13 min [MP3: http://x.malaysiakini.com/misc/audio_20010040801.mp3 ]