GE14 | MCA president Liow Tiong Lai has mocked DAP for not using its iconic “rocket” logo for the coming general election.

Speaking at the launch of MCA's manifesto this morning, he described DAP as an "opportunist party" for riding on the political comeback of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"There is a saying...'when Mahathir reappeared, the 'rocket' disappeared.' This shows DAP is an opportunist party… They are willing to take down their own flags," he added.

Party members, who had gathered at Wisma MCA's San Choon hall in Kuala Lumpur, booed at every mention of DAP.

DAP had agreed to ground the “rocket” for the first time since the 1969 general election in order for Pakatan Harapan parties to contest under a common logo.

The party's veteran leader Lim Kit Siang had described this as a painful decision.

'Party without principles'

At a press conference later, Liow took another swipe at DAP, and accused MCA's arch-rival of being a party without principles.

"I mentioned this in my speech earlier, about how the DAP has no principles. In order to secure Malay votes, they are willing to sacrifice their 'rocket' logo to be with Mahathir.

"In this issue, we can see that DAP's supporters are disappointed," he added, claiming that DAP is facing difficulties in convincing its supporters of the reason behind dropping the logo.

Quizzed on analysts claiming that Harapan's common logo strategy could pose a threat to BN, the MCA president disagreed.

He said the opposition parties would remain fragmented in their views despite contesting under a single logo.

"They do not have a core value like BN, they don't have a consensus. Each party has its own objectives...We know that they are inconsistent.

"So you can see that they are contesting now under one party logo, but DAP is still campaigning using the rocket, and they still have a lot of work to do to convince their supporters," he added.

'So says MCA which never used its own logo'

Meanwhile, DAP's Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching scoffed at MCA mocking the DAP for not using the rocket logo.

She pointed out that the MCA, since the days of BN, had never used its own logo before to contest in a general election.

"I don't think Liow would ever understand.

"Being the president of a party who has never used its own logo in any of the general election, can he please enlighten us. Did they give up their own logo so that nobody will be held accountable for 1MDB?" she said.

Teo said even before Mahathir became prime minister in 1981, MCA had lost its finance minister position in 1974.

She added that it took 15 years after Mahathir retired in 2003 for the BN to consider the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) for university entry.

"Mahathir reappears, the rocket disappears temporarily in the coming general election, but what emerges is a united front that will put BN to the toughest test.

"What also emerges is the greatest opportunity for the people of Malaysia to defeat BN in the coming general election," she said.