MCA flays S'gor Pakatan for 'Janji tidak ditepati'

Even before the Selangor MCA convention began today, delegates who made their way up to the venue at San Choon hall at MCA's headquarters were already being given an idea of what was to come.

By the staircase stood a banner in Chinese that read, "It's been two years, where is the White Paper" referring to the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government's promise in 2010 to publish the document on its Talam debt recovery exercise (right).

Playing on BN’s campaign cum national day theme 'Janji Ditepati' (promises fulfilled), Selangor MCA, the opposition in the state, was determined to paint Pakatan's 'Janji Tidak Ditepati' (promised not fulfilled) in the face of the looming general election.

MCA president Chua Soi Lek who officiated the convention got the ball rolling declaring,"I take this convention as the best opportunity to ceramah on the coming general election".

Taking his chieftain's cue, Selangor MCA chairperson Donald Lim began reciting a laundry list of promises which he claimed the Pakatan Selangor government had broken.

Among them were the failure to reduce quit rent, failure to reduce the assessment rate and commerical tax.

“After Pakatan came to power in 2008, it would blame the former BN government... If Pakatan stays in power, all the problems they encounter in 2013 or even 2020 will be blamed on BN.

"This is Pakatan - running from responsibilities, passing the blame. How are they able to take care of Selangor?" he said.

Capitalising on ‘controversies’

The MCA delegates gladly joined the chorus with the various problems they claimed were plaguing the Selangor government.

"How can the state government recover its debt from Talam through assets without properly evaluating its value," said Klang MCA representative Lee Chen Sen.

The water controversy too did not escape mention, as Serdang MCA representative Chang Toong Woh berated the state government for not resolving the alleged problem.

"Can you imagine that in certain parts of Selangor there was no water for nine days? Who is responsible for this shortage," asked Chang whose area were among those affected by the shortage.

Another delegate, Chong Sin Woon berated the Selangor's government initial rebuttal to the water shortage purported by state concessionaire Syarikat Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), by showing pictures or overflowing dams.

The most stinging attack came from Lim's wrap up, that described the Selangor government as “robber calling one thief” when members of the latter had protested outside Syabas over what was claimed to be a seige by the concessionaire to force the state to agree on the Langat 2 project.

"The water problem is a result of the state government refusal to accept the Langat 2 water treatment plant, but they are blaming on Syabas," he said.

Turnout discouraging

The attacks today were part of MCA’s continuing effort to put Pakatan in Selangor on the defensive.

However, despite the revved spirits of the some 1,546 delegates present today, the convention's chairperson Khoo Ooi Seng appeared upset with the low turnout as they prep for GE13.

"Just now when our president Chua asked if we are ready for the general election, everyone shouted yes, but how ready?

"My heart aches... If some divisions only have 20 people attending (this convention), how are we going to fight this battle?" he said, urging the party's leadership at every level to take this coming general election seriously in what is described as a do-or-die attempt to recapture Selangor.

Later, the delegates passed 12 resolutions, seven of which were aimed at Pakatan in Selangor.

Among the resolutions included condemning Pakatan for allegedly misdeeds such as neglecting affordable housing, not providing state-owned lands for Chinese schools and for harping on hudud law.

The convention today is the last before the next general election, which has to be called, at the latest, 60 days after Parliament is automatically dissolved on April 28 next year.