MCA publicity chief Chai Kim Sen hit back at critics of the Merdeka-themed short film ‘Citizens’, drawing an association between a parody of the film and those “inciting hatred” against the ruling coalition.

The short film, which sees MCA president Liow Tiong Lai acting in two roles, has become the subject of parody online.

A parody video posted on a pro-DAP Facebook page, Nasi Lemak 2020, shows Liow’s predecessor Dr Chua Soi Lek criticising the current management of MCA.

Defending Liow, Chai praised the short film for delivering a message on "inclusivity, forgiveness, to have hope and love for the nation".

But those behind the parody video are working to destroy unity and paint Malaysia in a negative light, he claimed.

“They always mock the country, disdain the soldiers who protect us, humiliate other groups. Their message is: people should have no hope in this country and use hatred to settle it,” Chai said in a statement.

He also lamented the rise of “hatred” among the opposition, which he said has "incurred bitterness, bred a wider political polarisation and tore apart the ties between our peoples, between individuals and the state, and individuals and the government".

“Over the last decade, we have seen the rise in the politics of hatred. Because there is simmering hatred, we are disabled from rationally discoursing, and lambast the ruling coalition as a convenient target,” the statement read.

“No government is perfect, because there is no perfect person in this world. There is hatred, and there are political parties inciting hatred. But hatred in no way will be able to solve any problems faced by the Chinese community, such as the Chinese education.

“Quarters who provoke hatred are only leading towards self-demise.”