An MCA leader has claimed that Chinese DAP leaders are afraid to comment on the purported omission of Chinese interests from Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto.

MCA publicity spokesperson Ti Lian Ker said while Harapan, and DAP in particular, claim to make decisions based on merit with no racial considerations, they have made exceptions with the "iltizam khusus" (special commitment) to the Malays and Indians in their manifesto.

"This shows the DAP’s blatant hypocrisy and inconsistency. Obviously, they have caved in to Dr Mahathir (Mohamad's) ethnocentric politics," he said in a statement today.

Ti said the DAP was using the "Chinese microscope" term to avoid that it has abandoned its Chinese supporters.

"This is after many years of hyping up that there is no room for racial politics or race-based parties.

"Harapan claims to be fighting for fairness and equal treatment for all, regardless of race or religion, yet the policies they proposed in their manifesto are blatantly unfair to and in total disregard for the welfare of the Chinese community.

"There are expressed policy proposals for all races but except for the Chinese.

"Is DAP conceding that the Chinese, from whom it had obtained more than 80 percent of the votes, are without problems and do not need government help or assistance?" Ti queried.

'The audacity to claim it is non-racial'

Citing pages 10, 23, 43, 46, 47, 69, 70, 72 and 157 and 167 of the Harapan manifesto, which talks about the special commitment to the Malay and the Indian communities, Ti said the manifesto was hypocritical due to the continued preferential treatment for the bumiputera.

"DAP has the audacity to claim that it is non-racial, blaming MCA for all the racial unequal playing field. When faced with Mahathir, it caved in and surrendered completely.

"Harapan made so many promises for the bumiputera and suddenly DAP has gone mute on fairness to all races and giving equal attention to each race’s needs."

As such, Ti questioned senior Chinese DAP leaders who have "gone into hiding" by getting two "unknown" non-Chinese leaders to dismiss this as "Chinese microscope".

"Since when has DAP stopped its 'Chinese microscopic' toxic politics?"