MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong has lashed at DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok for accusations that he was linking the foreign worker permit renewal system via MyEG Services Bhd with race.

 

“I am truly taken aback with her latest accusation. She has twisted my words by illogically and misleadingly suggesting that I had equated MyEG with race. At no time, did I mention the co-relation between MyEG and race.

 

“Her accusations against me are none other than a selective selection of my elaboration, and twisting them to start and fan race rhetoric with the sole purpose of launching an assault against the government and MyEG, and turning the Malaysian Chinese against MCA,” Wee said in a statement today.

 

Yesterday, Wee was quoted by a newspaper as stating the use of MyEG to renew foreign worker permits would allow the government to monitor worker movements from coming into, or leaving the country.

 

He was also alleged to have said that the number of foreign workers had already exceeded the number of Indian locals in the country and would overtake the Chinese population as well unless controlled.

Two distinct issues

 

The minister in the prime minister’s department also clarified that he had been misquoted by a newspaper while he was talking about two separate matters without any relation to one another.

 

“Allow me to clarify that the MyEG online renewal system and my concern on the influx of foreign workers are two completely distinct issues which I had spoken at length about,” Wee added.

 

The Ayer Hitam MP he said when he was talking about race at an open house, where he supposedly made the remark, he was indicating the rise of foreign workers in the country and how it may sideline locals.

 

“I had explained to the dinner guests that it is timely for the government to regulate and monitor the numbers and whereabouts of foreign workers in Malaysia. If their numbers are high and there are no proper records, it is high time to regulate with a proper database.

 

“If the government does not control the number of foreign workers, especially illegals, their ‘growth’ might even eventually outnumber the Malaysian Chinese population and this may pose a threat to national security,” Wee said.

 

Meanwhile, Kok ( right ) in a statement earlier today slammed Wee for being “illogical” for in trying to equate the online renewal system with race.

 

“Wee’s remarks are most puzzling and illogical. Wee should understand the employers’ concern and be a voice for them, rather than be a voice for MyEG,” Kok said.

 

The issue stemmed from the government’s move earlier this year to outsource management of a centralised foreign worker permit system to MyEG.

 

The move , which was supposed to eradicate congestion at immigration counters and battle the involvement of middlemen, has received criticism from several groups, including MCA and other opposition parties.