DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng expressed shock that several Umno ministers were present during the red shirt rally in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

What was more astonishing, Lim said, was that MCA ministers are willing to continue working in the Cabinet led by Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“There were so many ministers present during the rally which spewed hatred towards Chinese schools, and protesters created chaos and scuffled with the police, while racist slurs were hurled towards non-Malays,” Lim said at a press conference.

“I wonder how can MCA and Gerakan continue to serve the Cabinet when even (former) Umno ministers like Annuar Musa openly admitted that he is a racist,” he added.

MCA president Liow Tiong Lai and Gerakan chief Mah Siew Keong are among two BN component party representatives in the cabinet.

Among the prominent Umno leaders present at the rally were Ahmad Maslan and deputy minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

Lim said the last chance for MCA and Gerakan to show they were committed to a multi-racial Malaysia is for them to question these Umno ministers in the next Cabinet meeting.

He added that the ministers in question have to explain why they attended and supported such a racist gathering, said to counter the ‘Chinese’ Bersih 4 rally on Aug 29 and 30.

'Dissociate from the red shirt rally'

“Gerakan and MCA leaders should then disassociate themselves from the gathering and remarks or actions in the gathering and the Umno ministers (must) apologise.

“Or else these Gerakan and MCA ministers should resign, because if they cannot even do this, it is merely a sandiwara (drama) that they are for multiracial Malaysia, and were just pretending to be so,” Lim added.

Effigies of Lim and his father DAP supremo Lim KIt Siang were burned by Kota Bharu Umno in the run-up to the ‘Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu’ on Sept 16.

On DAP Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim being called to give his statement on attending the Bersih 4 rally, Lim said he was quite surprised because the police never had that kind of enthusiasm when it comes to the red shirt protesters.

“No such enthusiasm even when racial slurs like ‘Cina bangsat’ (Chinese bastard) and ‘Cina babi’ (Chinese pig) were uttered,” Lim quipped.

“Even the person (Ali Tinju) who was caught in video clips giving inflammatory speeches at the Low Yat business centre was let off, his charge withdrawn by the attorney-general,” he added.

Lim pledged to assist those facing similar charges.

“This is such double standards but the DAP leaders are prepared to face even double standard actions and selective persecution by the authorities. Those who face such probes will be assisted by DAP lawyers,” he said.

“Others from Penang who are facing such actions by the authorities can also inform us and the Penang government will assist,” he added.