MCA Youth today threw its support behind Duyong assemblyperson Gan Tian Loo who sparked protest from the DAP for posing a controversial question to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's wife Betty Chew in the Malacca state assembly on Monday.

The wing's secretary-general Chai Kim Sen said it was only right for Gan to ask Chew to clarify certain rumours that were circulating online.

"(But) a fuss was kicked up by the Pakatan representatives who accused Gan of attempting to discredit Lim, thus proving that Pakatan representatives have rich imaginations and that they practise double standards," Chai said in a statement today.

NONE While debating the motion to condemn the Bersih 3.0 rally on Monday, Gan urged Chew, who is also Kota Laksamana assemblyperson, to answer questions related to the transfer of a former female staff of her husband's office.

Chew refused to respond despite being pressed several times by Gan (left) , and instead challenged Gan to repeat the allegations outside the assembly. However, Gan refused to do so.

Yesterday, all five Malacca DAP assemblypersons staged a walkout from the state assembly after accusing Gan of conspiring with the state assembly speaker and certain pro-BN media to smear Lim, Chew and the Penang state government.

The former staff has claimed that she is not aware of what had taken place in the Malacca state assembly and refused comment.

Chai in his statement today said Chew, as the Kota Laksamana assemblyperson, may choose to refute or clarify, or choose to answer or not to answer the question.

'They chose to escape by diverting attention'

"However, the actions of Pakatan assemblymen in accusing MCA of a conspiracy outside the state assembly and staging a walkout have made the issue a complicated one.

"By putting forward all kinds of conspiracy theories, it shows that DAP representatives do not dare to answer the question, and so they chose to escape by diverting attention."

He pointed out that the Pakatan representatives have also asked BN representatives in both Parliament and state assemblies to clarify certain rumours being circulated by the online media, claiming that this was all part of democracy and transparency.

"In truth, we find nothing wrong in that. However, when BN representatives undertake likewise to DAP over certain rumours, they then accuse BN of being involved in a conspiracy, contradicting their own words.

"Pakatan members obviously hold the belief that only they are allowed to raise problems and that they should criticise BN members who ask questions. Whenever there are rumours circulating, which are not favourable to them, they will throw all kinds of conspiracy theories in an attempt to evade answering the problem.

"Both the government and the opposition are responsible for raising questions on a variety of issues, which is required in the state assembly or in Parliament. Whether the reply is given orally or in written format, so long as one can answer truthfully, there should be no accusations of a conspiracy," Chai added.

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