The MCA will not hold demonstrations to protest any racist statements as it has done all it can to make its case against racism clear, said party president Dr Chua Soi Lek.

"There are democratic processes and channels to articulate what you need to say. There is no need (to) hold demonstrations every day.

"What else do you want us to do, bang our heads against the wall and only then would you be convinced?" he said in an interview with selected media today.

NONE Chua ( right ) was clearly annoyed when asked to comment on the party's apparent inability to convince the ruling government to take action against the two principals widely reported to have made racist comments at their respective school assemblies and also on the recent controversy where a National Civics Bureau (BTN) senior official allegedly called Chinese si sepet (slit eyes) and Indians si kaki botol (alcoholic).

He stressed that he has repeatedly made the party's stand clear that they "reject and condemn and will not tolerate any racial statements or utterances by any government servant or politician.

"... we want the government to act fast and firmly, and I've said it many times, only you don't read Chinese newspapers, unfortunately. You always say because you don't read Chinese newspapers, you say we don't make our stand," he said in response to the question from Malaysiakini .

Chua noted however that people should not blow the issue out of proportion, as racists account for a small fraction of the 1.2 million government servants in Malaysia.

"I have said very clearly, if this comes from the prime minister then it's different, but it's not so.

"In a multiracial country, there are people who want to be a hero and to some simple people who don't have much brains, the easiest way to become a hero is to say something racial because they can then be a hero among a small group in their own race.

"So we should not overreact to them. If you do that, there would be more and more of these people who want to be a hero in the shortest possible time," he said.

Action speaks louder

Chua nevertheless pointed out that the responsibility falls on MCA not only to make its stand clear on whatever issue facing the Chinese community and Malaysians, but to also get results.

While quickly adding that he, as party president, has delivered on some major issues, he stressed that MCA as a member of the ruling BN coalition must prove they are the best choice for the people.

NONE Commenting on deputy Prime Minister cum Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's (left in pic) statement that he has no jurisdiction over the racist headmasters, Chua repeated his party's stand that the government must be decisive on the issue.

"We already made our stand that we want the DPM to act fast. To say that the DPM has no power, people cannot accept (that), they cannot understand (the reasons). I can understand, but not many people can understand and we are all falling into this (racism) trap."

Chua pointed out that ministers have the authority to recommend to the Public Services Department (JPA) what action to take against errant civil servants, but sidestepped a question on whether he agreed with Muhyiddin's statement or otherwise.

NONE "It's not a question of whether I accept or cannot accept. It's a question that the rakyat cannot accept, because they don't understand (a minister's limitations), so the government has to act fast to show that it means business," he said.

Chua however cautioned against jumping the gun in crying racism, citing the recent si sepet and si kaki botol remarks allegedly made by BTN deputy director Hamim Husain ( right) , as reported by a news portal last week.

He said he agreed with Hamim's move to lodge a police report against The Malaysian Insider over the article, saying it is a "good thing" that would clear the air over the allegation.

"It's good that he (made the) report, and I hope the news portal will then say it was wrong (in reporting) that he uttered all those words," he said.