DAP publicity chief Tony Pua has accused MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek of mocking the Najib administration’s 1Malaysia policy by claiming ignorance of Islamic practices.

Pua said the issue in contention is Chua’s statement that he was ignorant of the religious sensitivities involved when questioning PAS’ Tenang by-election candidate Normala Sudirman’s refusal to shake hands with men.

“So what is so great about that? That is your religious value which I don’t know. How am I to know about the religious values when I’m not practicing that religion?” said Chua yesterday.

NONE Pua ( left ) said that Chua’s statement was an admission that he was completely separated from other communities in the country and was not interested in greater inter-racial and inter-religious understanding.

He said that Chua had also proved that MCA is a party for chauvinists who have no respect for other religions and cultures.

“This is despite the fact that he has spent more than a decade as a senior Johor state executive councillor and a cabinet minister,” said Pua in a statement today.

Chua is an influential figure in the Tenang constituency because he was formerly the Labis MP, a parliamentary seat which encompasses Tenang.

He has been on an aggressive campaign against PAS, using Normala’s refusal to shake hands with men as an example of the Islamic party’s goal to turn Malaysia into a theocracy.

‘Open warfare’

MCA's campaign had irked some Malay groups and led BN polls commander-in-chief Muhyiddin Yassin to openly demand that Chua tone down his campaign.

chua soi lek tenang moral uplifting society 240111 Chua ( right ) however retorted that he was duty-bound as MCA president to warn the Chinese community about PAS’ goals and Muhyiddin should have employed internal channels in conveying his misgivings.

Pua said that Chua was now engaging in “open warfare” with Muhyiddin, who is also the deputy prime minister and Umno deputy president, on the issue of respecting individual rights and religious sensitivities.

“This proves that the BN coalition’s 50-year marriage of convenience is cracking at the seams,” said Pua.

“Instead of putting the issue to a close, (Chua) persisted by repeating his claim that shaking hands is ‘good manners’, implying that Normala Sudirman had bad manners for sticking to her religious beliefs.”

Pua suggested that the strain between Umno and MCA was “understandable” because both parties play to their respective galleries in isolation unlike Pakatan Rakyat.

“Pakatan (coalition) parties have proven themselves in slowly but surely disintegrating the racial barriers and silos with their leaders endorsing a common policy platform, and criss-crosses all party ceramahs demonstrating our ability to speak with a common voice.  

“It is ironic that while the bonds of the three parties in Pakatan Rakyat, which is accused of being a marriage of convenience, are only getting stronger by the day with increased understanding and cooperation, BN is tearing at the seams with its leaders unable to see eye-to-eye with each other,” said Pua.

EC to meet Friday over Merlimau polls