Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia has called MCA to redeem itself from shame following its entry into the cabinet on Friday.

 

The newspaper, under the pseudonym Awang Selamat which is used to express its editorial stance, said Gerakan, likewise, needed to recover itself in a piece entitled ‘Tebuslah malu’ (redeem from shame).

 

"Awang does not push to hold any hopes but awaits these two parties to show impact particularly in terms of service to the rakyat. Do no easily give up even before fighting all-out under the banner of BN.

 

"MCA in particular surely has to redeem its honour from the shame stuck to it to this day," the newspaper said in its Sunday edition Mingguan Malaysia .

 

It added the test of Gerakan's and MCA's strength will be its ability to regain support in Chinese-majority areas without the need to rely on Malay voters.

 

The newspaper also lauded Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ( right ) for bringing in MCA and Gerakan into the cabinet, stating that this reflected a multi-racial government.

 

On Friday, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai was officially sworn in as Transport Minister while Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong and MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong were was sworn in as ministers in the Prime Minister's Department.

 

This comes after more than a year of absence in the cabinet after they declined to join the government due to their abysmal performance in the 13th general election.