On Nov 21, the DAP leadership directed its members in Terengganu and Kelantan to relinquish their political posts and not to accept new appointments in the PAS administration. This is part of the DAP's long-term political strategy in its struggle to keep Malaysia a secular state.

DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock had displayed a rational and matured gesture in his understanding of the need for non-Muslim representation in the local government. Though DAP lost the valued membership of those leaders who had resigned, the party did win the respect of the locals for its clearly defined struggle.

MCA on the other hand is still doped with their Chinese chauvinistic political culture of total rejection to any non-Barisan Nasional political agenda. On whether MCA would consider accepting the 15 leaders into the party if they applied for membership, Ong said: "No way. We will not accept people who are against the Chinese community and have done wrong."

The question is, what wrong has these people done? They only want their people's voice and problems to be heard by the PAS administration in Kuala Terengganu!

It is wrong for Ka Ting to brand the Kuala Terengganu Chinese community leaders as against the community for rejecting MCA. It is a democratic process that MCA was voted out together with Umno from Wisma Darul Iman. The non-Muslim community has to adapt themselves in these inevitable changes of the political development; their interest needs to be protected with or without MCA's presence.

As long as I can remember, during the Mokhtar Ahmad's administration, there are not as many non-Muslim positions created to cater for the need of Chinese community. The PAS administration had applied its Islamic state principal in creating the positions for the non-Muslims so that minority interests are heard.

It is wrong for Ka Ting to comment that the office bearers were holding on to the post for self-interests - the allowance paid by PAS administration is very minimal and it may not even sufficient to cover their traveling expenses and community services overhead.

As Malaysian citizens, we must recognise that the origin of Malaysia was evolved from the Malacca Sultanate; it was an Islamic state since 1402. Over the years, PAS had been championing the Islamic cause even during the colonial era; even before the federal constitution was written.

History had also shown that Malaysia nationalists who fought the colonial masters are mostly Muslim leaders, including the grandfather of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Malaysia would not be a sovereign state without the contribution of such Muslim leaders. In the similar period, most of the Chinese community leaders were collaborating with the European masters and focussed on economic activities.

Ka Ting's declaration of war against the Islamic state will soon be his political liabilities as Umno is also engaging itself in shifting the government administration into the Islamic state format. Why does Ka Ting not comment on the actions of Umno, which is also waging a war against Chinese community? If PAS eventually win the general election and take over the government administration, will Ka Ting still declare war against the Islamic state?

Ka Ting has no right to deny the decision of the Chinese community leaders from helping the locals by taking up the appointment in the municipal government in Terengganu or Kelantan.

MCA need a broader shoulder to accommodate the Chinese community leaders who are more pragmatic and realistic about the situation. Ka Ting as MCA president has to be reminded that the party exists to serve the Chinese community, and not that the Chinese community exist to serve MCA.