DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has queried whether the new MCA leadership was prepared to be the voice of moderation amid attempts by certain elements to create racial and religious tension in the country.

 

Lim said the majority across the political divide want a stop to the incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred with the intent of creating another ‘May 13’ situation, but was unsure if certain elements within the race-based ruling coalition shared the same sentiments.

 

"I am not sure about the BN leaders, whether Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC or others, for some of them may think racial chaos and religious conflagration are the only way to consolidate and perpetuate their political control and interests...

 

"In the 'Major Right, Major Wrong' challenge facing the country, can the Liow Tiong Lai-Wee Ka Siong MCA leadership be trusted to be with 'moderates' in Malaysia to take a stand against extremists, or will they keep silent hoping that the extremists can create a political situation they can benefit from?" he asked in a statement today.

 

Lim pointed out that at least five Umno ministers had accused Seputeh MP Teresa Kok's satire video of being racially offensive, even though it did not touch on race.

 

This led to a string of reactions from various quarters, the most controversial of which was a RM1,200 cash offer by a right-wing Malay group to slap Kok.

 

"One can agree or disagree with the stinging criticisms of the political satire in the video about a whole host of problems faced by Malaysians... but nobody can charge it for being anti-Malay, anti-Islam, or anti-royalty, because there were just no references in the video that could be used to ground such allegations," he said.

 

Lim added that in the ongoing political situation, there can only be four positions - namely those who speak against extremism, those who back the extremists, those who dare not speak up, and those who are deliberately silent as they secretly hope to benefit from the situation.

Make clear your stance, MCA told

 

As such, Lim urged the MCA to make clear its stance.

 

MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong had criticised the offer to slap Kok, but was also reported by Bernama as urging the Seputeh MP to  apologise  for the Chinese New Year satire video which poked fun at the government on public issues.

 

He later  denied urging the apology, saying that he merely asked Kok to be more sensitive and mature in discussing issues in public.

 

Wee had also  slammed DAP for blaming the MCA of not correcting its coalition partners’ racial arguments over the video, pointing out that the video entitled ‘Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014’ had English subtitles for all to understand.