MCA is defending its president Chua Soi Lek over the brickbats caused by his recent remarks that the party still feels like a "junior partner" in BN.

malaysiakini interview loh seng kok 061108 04 Party central committee member and deputy chairman of the publicity bureau Loh Seng Kok ( left ) said that Chua was being frank during his speech delivered at the Barisan Nasional convention where he frankly conveyed the people’s views.

"The contents of the president’s speech had nailed the point that 'there should not be any big brother or younger brother within the coalition'.

"Chua had also recommended that words like 'pendatang', ' penumpang ', ' terhutang budi ', ' kurang patriotik ' and ' ketuanan Melay u' should be considered taboo and said that national policies should not be announced at the Umno general assembly," said Loh in a press statement today.

Chua in his impassioned speech at the BN convention last Sunday had lashed out against Umno, the BN heavyweight, over MCA’s role in the coalition.

Implying that MCA's views have been frequently sidelined by Umno, Chua took a direct swipe at the Malay-based party.

The comment had provoked Umno’s leaders, with deputy education minister Puad Zarkashi calling the statements "unnecessary" and "untrue", while Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that Chua's speech had "angered" many in Umno and MCA.

‘Accept public criticism’

Loh - one of the more outspoken MCA leaders - responded today that Chua’s critics should instead "display an honest and humble attitude and accept the facts".

bn convension 20101205 muhyiddin and chua soi lek "Comments made by the MCA president reflect the views and opinions held by many people on the shortcomings within BN...

"If Hishammuddin and Puad are not able to accept these messages from the public, and paradoxically tone down the shortcomings through distraction via public criticism against Dr Chua ( above, left ), how will they govern the country?

"As leaders, we must be always ready to accept public criticism and questioning," he said.

Adding that the convention was not merely an avenue to blow one’s own trumpet, he said BN leaders should be self-critical to learn from their own mistakes.

"This would be consistent with the BN chairman cum Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak pointing out the 4 diseases which can harm BN, i.e. delusion, amnesia, inertia and arrogance, rather than blindly assuming that all is perfect," said Loh.

Gerakan backs MCA

Meanwhile, Gerakan president and also the Minister in Prime Minister's Department Koh Tsu Koon agreed expressed for Chua, adding that his speech reflected the perception of the non-Malay community.

“For example, announcing major government policies after UMNO meetings and not just after Cabinet and BN meetings have given rise to the perception that BN is not quite a coalition of equals as stated in the BN constitution," said Koh in a statement this afternoon.

Calling for BN to exercise democracy with responsibility, he said that all leaders should be free to express their views and in a positive and constructive manner.

"On this particular matter, it is best that we do not overreact against one another in the open but make full use of internal mechanisms available to us like the Cabinet and BN meetings," he said.

Tee Keat: Chua once backed 'ketuanan Melayu'