Quit playing the race card, let the record of your accomplishments speak for itself - that's MCA's message to Mukhriz Mahathir after the bashing it had to endure from the Kedah Menteri Besar.

"Seeing that the Umno party election is around the corner, I strongly urge Mukhriz and other Umno leaders to stop playing up racist issues.

malaysiakini interview loh seng kok 061108 04 "If they want to win the support of their party members, they should do so based on their achievements in the party to prove who is the better candidate," said MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok (left) in a statement today.

Umno contenders have of late attempted to prop up their Malay credentials ahead of the party election of their ethno-nationalist party, and Chinese-based partner MCA has often found itself at the receiving end.

MCA had criticised Mukhriz for declaring that he will ignore the needs of Chinese vernacular schools as the Chinese had not backed the ruling coalition.

Mukhriz responded by hitting out at MCA and labeling the party as racist which Loh rubbished.

MCA has always taken a wide-minded approach towards any issue and we have never issued racist statements in order to win over the Chinese at the expense of other races," said Loh.

‘Don't make daddy's mistake'

In a separate statement, Interim Kedah DAP chairperson Zairil Khir Johari warned Mukhriz of the consequences of ignoring any community in the country.

NONE "In 1969, Mukhriz's father Dr Mahathir Mohamad ( right ) made a similar statement where he said he did not need the support of the Chinese community to win in the election.

"In the end, he lost in the contest for the Kota Setar Selatan seat. Now it is apparent that Mukhriz wants to repeat that mistake come the Sungai Limau by-election," he said.

Though Mukhriz already has a state seat and will not contest in the coming by-election, he is head of the state government there and the results there will reflect on his leadership.

Zairil urged the Kedah Menteri Besar to learn from Pakatan Rakyat-led Penang which provides ample funding to all forms of schools.