A PKR lawmaker claimed today that MCA is "forcing" Chinese students from Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) to attend a patriotic rally to be held by the party tomorrow.

The university college has made it compulsory for students to attend the event, which will be officiated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, PKR's Selayang MP William Leong said.

MCA will reportedly hold the rally, dubbed "Malaysian Chinese Patriotic Rally", at the Putra World Trade Centre, where a 10,000-strong crowd is expected.

"How many of the attendees are being forced to attend? The crowd may not genuinely support MCA," Leong said at a press conference at his service centre.

The letter, dated Sept 6 and issued by the university college. states: "Students of TAR UC are invited to attend the event. As such, it is compulsory for all the Chinese class reps, assistant class reps, scholars and representatives of SRC (students representative council) to attend the event as it is going to be conducted mainly in the Chinese language."

Malaysiakini has attempted to contact TAR UC head of centre Yeoh Hock Seng and MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan for comment.

Meanwhile, MCA publicity spokesperson Ti Lian Ker said the event is apolitical and not meant to be a show of support by the Chinese community for MCA or BN.

"This is a patriotic rally initiated by MCA. It is about nationalism, patriotism and bringing the Chinese forward to show our patriotism, so no politician will continue to question our patriotism. Even Dr Mahathir Mohamad questioned our patriotism," Ti (photo) said when contacted.

"All NGOs and institutions are welcome to participate in the spirit of patriotism. As for the letter, (the media) should refer the matter to the TAR UC.

"TAR UC did not make it compulsory for all students to attend. So maybe they want to get their top student leaders to get involved in this meaningful national event," he added.

Ti said Leong should not be overly worried about the Chinese community coming forward to show their patriotism.

"It is an overreaction on their part," he added.

"Leong must be afraid that as the Chinese become more patriotic, especially the young, Harapan may lose its pool of anti-establishment votes.

"Otherwise, he should be happy that Institutions like TAR UC are encouraging their student leaders to participate in a positive patriotic national event as an educational process," Ti elaborated.

'Scholars threatened to attend'

At the same press conference with Leong, PKR Youth deputy director of strategy, Chua Wei Kiat, alleged that TAR UC scholars were being threatened to attend the rally.

Based on the WhatsApp message sighted by him, Chua said, TAR UC told the students that they need to support events related to the university college as their condition for enjoying their scholarships.

"There are approximately 2,000 students who receive scholarships for both diploma and degree courses every year," he said, adding that "and they are being threatened."

When contacted, Yeoh, who confirmed penning the Sept 6 letter, said TAR UC has no intention of forcing its students to attend the rally.

The letter was drafted as a way of encouraging the student leaders and scholarship holders to attend the rally.

"No forcing. And it is not compulsory. We just want them to experience the events outside the university college," Yeoh said.

He denied that the university college would withdraw the scholarships of students who failed to show up at the rally.

"In our WhatsApp message to the students, we said the terms and conditions of the scholarships are to support (TAR UC's related) events.

"But, they can be excused if they have to balik kampung or tend to their parents' needs. They just have to write to us," he said.

Yeoh estimates that a few hundred students from TAR UC would attend the rally.