DAP has challenged MCA and Gerakan both to boycott the Sg Limau by-election campaign in the wake of the recent statement on Chinese schools made by Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir.

NONEThe two BN component parties have criticised Mukhriz's statement that the Kedah government would ignore calls to build Chinese schools in the state, and priority would be given to those who had supported BN in the 13th general election.

"It is obvious that Mukhriz thinks Chinese votes are no longer important to him and the BN coalition," DAP's Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said in a statement today.

"As such, I challenge MCA and Gerakan, which have set up their committees to assist BN in the upcoming Sungai Limau by-election, to register their strongest protest by boycotting the BN campaign," Kok said.

While it would be "futile" to ask the two parties to leave the BN coalition, she added, MCA and Gerakan should have the "political courage" to boycott the Sungai Limau campaign.

Mukhriz has in the past called for the abolition of vernacular schools.

Yesterday, MCA publicity bureau deputy chief Loh Seng Kok said that punishing voters for their political allegiance was "contrary to the BN spirit".