MCA should stand with Umno because it does not advocate hudud law despite being a party for Muslims, an MCA delegate said at the party's national-level annual general meeting (AGM) today.

“PAS attacked our Umno allies relentlessly in the Malay villages (on the hudud issue), but Umno bravely took the blows in order to defend the rights of non-Muslims in Malaysia’s multiracial and multi-religious country.

mca 59th agm 211012 “How can we not stand with Umno?” delegate Dr Leong Yong Kong asked during the debate session.

Leong was explaining the reasons why the party should support Umno, saying that MCA members who are not prepared to explain this are not ready to meet the people.

Leong, who is also the Gurun assemblyperson, said MCA worked with Umno and the other BN component parties because they have a common cause of upholding constitutional monarchy in a parliamentary democracy.

“This is what we must bravely tell the Malaysian Chinese community and the people. As long as Umno (respects) ethnic and religious diversity, we must stand and fight with them,” he said.

Will PAS approve of nightclubs?

Leong added that Umno leaders have a better understanding of Islam than PAS and its emphasis on fairness. 

He argued that this was the reason why Umno did not implement hudud although it is mandatory for Muslims to accept it, while it would be rejected by non-Muslims.

As for DAP, he said it should be opposed for convincing the Chinese community to “go along with PAS’ twisted version of Islam”.

In addition, Leong pointed out, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had announced nightclubs as part of Kuala Lumpur’s development plan to draw tourists and businesses.

“At the time, PAS attacked our prime minister savagely, but did he back down? He continued because he understood that we needed economic development, or we would be a backwater country.

“If I am not mistaken, (PAS-led) Kelantan has no entertainment, no economic activity, no foreign investment and not even domestic investment,” Leong said.

Dissecting Guan Eng's tactics

Meanwhile, Perak MCA deputy youth chief Ding Siew Chee slammed Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for exploiting the Automated Enforcement System (AES) for political mileage.

“When the government announced that AES would be implemented at 831 locations and the media reported it, Lim said, ‘my chance is here, I could attack the government’,” Ding said.

If the media later asks Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha whether the system would be reconsidered in view of public opposition and he answers in the negative, Ding said Lim would then turn it against the government.

“If you ask Lim, he would say ‘Kong is taking unilateral action. BN does not listen to the rakyat. If you vote for me, we would not implement AES.’

“Comrades, is the chief minister planning to turn Penang into a racetrack? This is not right,” he said.

Conversely, if Kong had agreed to reconsider, Ding claimed that Lim would accuse the government of flip-flopping instead.

'The poorly-educated end up in DAP'

Penang has thus far suspended the implementation of AES in Penang pending further study, while questioning whether the project is meant to enrich the companies handling the system.

Another delegate, Tiew Geok Siew who represents the party’s women’s wing, said students who are not properly educated would end up joining DAP.

Tiew was speaking about MCA’s contribution to mother tongue education at the time and praising its quality.

“In Malaysia, MCA’s contribution to mother tongue education can’t be denied, and when it comes to higher education, (MCA-owned) Tunku Abdul Rahman College and Tunku Abdul Rahman University are proof of this.

“The students, especially the young ones, are national assets and also future MCA members, right?

“If our students do not get a proper education, don’t understand issues, and end up joining DAP, won’t MCA and the Chinese fall into a pit?” Tiew said, before continuing to praise the quality of Chinese schools.