BN's more authoritarian, DAP tells MCA

MCA’s criticism of the Penang City Council's (MPPP) action against PAS councillor Iszuree Ibrahim has struck a nerve. 

 

But in an ironic tit-for-tat, MPPP councillor Chris Lee retort to Penang MCA Youth Michael Lee’s criticism turned into the debate of which government is more “authoritarian” than the other. 

 

“As a component member of the BN ruling coalition, MCA is in no position to criticise anyone of authoritarianism especially with the recent arrests of the Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) as well as the wide use of the Sedition Act. 

 

“The MCA is part of the government in federal power and failing to lift a finger against such happenings in recent times, where is the MCA's moral authority to comment on 'freedom of speech'?” Chris (right) asked in a statement yesterday.

 

Michael had slammed MPPP and the Penang government for turning into an “authoritarian” regime, by taking action against councillor Iszuree without due process. 

 

Iszuree’s budget allocation was frozen after his speech at the recent muktamar was seen to be critical of the Penang government.

 

Yesterday, 15 MPPP councillors signed a petition urging that Iszuree be sacked from the council. 

 

Iszuree, however, said that his speech was taken out of context by Malaysiakini and is mulling legal action. 

 

No tolerance for mistruths

 

Meanwhile, Chris, who is also Penang DAP Youth deputy chief, said policy decisions made by the MPPP are done through consensus and that “there is always room for debate”. 

 

“Councillors can disagree on many issues and we have the available channels to voice our disagreements,” he said. 

 

He said that the MPPP, however, is intolerant of “mistruths” and believe that this should be corrected. 

 

“You are entitled to the right to criticise and I am also entitled to the right to reply; and when you criticise, I also suggest you be consistent with what you are criticising.

 

“Your government's actions contradict what you are criticising and you don't owe me an explanation, you owe an explanation to the people of this great nation,” he said, addressing Michael directly.