Environmental issues that have been raised in recent months will erode the support for Barisan Nasional, MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek warned today.

"They will, because the DAP is raising these issues just to attack BN," Chua said when when asked about this issue at a press conference at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

pengerang himpunan hijau 300912 pkr “Whether these are environment issues on the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp), Bukit Koman gold mine or the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project, they will upset voters.”

Chua said this was why all three Pakatan Rakyat parties have different positions on the Rapid project in Pengerang, Johor.

While DAP stated that it would not oppose the oil refinery if the people wanted it, its ally PKR wants the project scrapped.

Some senior PAS leaders, he said, want the project moved to Kertih, Terengganu, where there is an existing oil refinery, while others have called for the project to stay where it is, but for the plans to be altered so as not to affect so many ethnic Malay villages.

Issues raised 'not for people's sake'

"So, it is obvious they are (raising environmental issues) not for the people's sake but to attack BN," Chua added.

He said the Bukit Koman gold mine cyanide issue had been raised before, during the previous general election campaign, and a DAP state assemblyperson was voted into office. Yet, the gold mine remained open.

"The local assemblyperson (Choong Siew Onn) has not done anything except to make noise," Chua said.

As for Lamp, he said this has been most transparent issue as there have been court hearings and a parliamentary select committee studying it.

bukit selambau by election chua soi lek mca s ganesan dinner event 300309 05 "We hope that by addressing these problems through various channels, the people can see the true face of the opposition," Chua added.

Asked whether the MCA was in a better position today than during the 2008 general election, Chua answered in the affirmative.

He said there was greater unity within the party now, with its members more confident and the MCA having carried out many more activities.

In addition, he said, the dinners MCA organised in Malacca and in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, have drawn large crowds of more than 5,000 and 10,000 people respectively, with each guest paying RM30 per seat, and with another nine dinners planned throughout this month.

"So (we are) more confident, more high-spirited and more united compared with 2008," Chua added.

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