MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek said DAP's M Manoharan was "politically retarded" for the latter's criticism of national shuttler Lee Chong Wei's Olympic performance.

In his speech today at an event to honour Lee and fellow Olympic medallist Pandelela Rinong Pamg, Chua said Manoharan was undoing attempts to unite Malaysia.

"If politicians fail to unite all Malaysians, at least both of you have helped to unite all Malaysians in the spirit of 1Malaysia," he said of Lee and Pandelela, who bagged a silver for badminton and bronze for diving respectively.

hindraf btn 151209 manoharan Without naming Manoharan ( right ), Chua said the former had spoiled the heroic efforts displayed by the Olympic duo.

"I have not forgotten one politically retarded politician who tweeted rubbishing the achievement of Lee - which is rather unfortunate - and sang praises of his opponent from China.

"After that he apologised. I felt it was meaningless for him to apologise," said Chua during the event in Petaling Jaya.

However, he noted that he did not mean retarded in its literal sense.

Praises for Chong Wei and Pandelela

Adding on, Chua said sports should not politicised nor should Malaysians allow politics to divide them when it come to sports.

He also sang praises for Lee and Pandelela before handing a mock cheque of RM100,000 each by The Star to the duo.

"Despite your ankle injury, you lost not because you lacked in determination or skill, it was just that Lady Luck was not smiling on you especially on the last two points. For your determination, you are an inspiration to all Malaysians," he said to Lee.

To Pandelela, he said: "I must admit I never heard of her before", to laughter in the room.

"But that made your victory a greater sensation to all Malaysians. In the wee hours in the morning, not many people watched the event (Pandelela's 10m platform dive) but when the news broke next morning, we were all very proud," he said.