Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has a knack for stealing the thunder. But it is often followed by bolts of criticism such as in the case of his infamous 'Chinese who vote DAP are ingrates' remark.

Based on this symptom, Lim Kit Siang diagnosed the home minister with an illness he said is spread by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad. It is called "Mahathirish perverse illogic".

The DAP veteran also criticised Zahid for "casting a long shadow" on the 40th anniversary celebrations on the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia.

"It was a baseless and mischievous attack on the loyalty of Chinese Malaysians for exercising their constitutional right for choosing the elected reps and government they want," he added.

                    

In a speech at a Malay village during the campaign for the Teluk Intan by-election, Zahid spoke about how the Malays and Indians had helped Chinese traders become rich.

But after becoming successful, he added, the Chinese traders voted for DAP .

Even MIC found his remarks difficult to swallow, prompting party deputy president Dr S Subramaniam to advise the minister against regurgitating the statement to Indian voters.

The Teluk Intan test

    

However, Lim admitted that there were ingrates in this country and named Zahid as one of them.

He also reminded the Umno vice-president that the latter did not possess the divine right to be a minister and therefore should stop acting as such.

Lim also termed the May 31 by-election as a test for the nation after 57 years of independence and 51 years after the formation of Malaysia to determine if there is a greater Malaysian consciousness among the citizens.

"Or whether we are still separated and divided as Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and Ibans.

"Ev en more important, whether the noisy racial and religious extremists in the country are a minority compared to the majority of Malaysians, who are moderates and want Malaysia to succeed as a united, harmonious, tolerant, multi-racial, multi-religious, progressive, competitive and prosperous nation?" he added.

The DAP strongman said that nobody can question the loyalty and patriotism of the the electorate for supporting DAP and Pakatan Rakyat in the pursuit of political change to usher in justice, freedom, accountability and good governance.

"For this reason, I call on Teluk Intan voters of all races to demonstrate that they are more patriotic and better Malaysians than Umno and BN ministers and leaders by uniting solidly to vote in support of DAP," he added.

DAP is fielding Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, who would be facing BN's Mah Siew Keong, who is also the president of Gerakan.

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