BALAKONG POLLS | An MCA division leader has warned that working with PAS would culminate in the party losing the one thing which it is left with - dignity.

Lim Chin Fui raised this in response to the Islamist party's maiden appearance at an MCA event to support the latter's candidate for the Balakong by-election, Tan Chee Teong.

According to Chinese press reports, the Port Dickson MCA chief said he was shocked to learn about PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan’s presence at the Sept 4 event in Taman Tun Perak.

Describing MCA as a principled party, Lim said he could not understand why it would accept PAS' assistance to campaign in the by-election.

“MCA can work with any party which shares a similar ideology, but not with PAS, whose struggle is in contrast to ours.

“PAS has the right to do anything it wants, but MCA should not accept (the partnership of) a party that has a different ideology. If MCA accepts PAS' help, does it mean MCA agrees with the PAS state government whipping two lesbians?

“MCA has already lost everything, do we want to sacrifice the only thing we have left - our dignity?” he was quoted as saying.

Lim was referring to two women who had been caned in the Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court on Monday after being found guilty of attempting sexual relations with each other.

The MCA division leader also pointed out that PAS aims to form a theocratic state and implement hudud law as well as its previous alliance with DAP.

“They (PAS) have been together with and apart from DAP four to five times. This shows PAS is an opportunistic party. Does MCA really need to campaign with such a party?” he asked.

He also recalled how MCA leaders had criticised DAP in the past for working with PAS, but were making the same mistake now.

After MCA was defeated in all the seats it contested in Negeri Sembilan during the 14th general election, Lim had resigned as the party's state chief, saying he would take “full responsibility” for the losses.

He has announced that he plans to contest the MCA vice-presidency in the upcoming November party election.

Takiyuddin’s appearance on Tuesday stood in contrast to MCA's long history of attacking PAS over its ambitions to turn Malaysia into a theocratic state.

However, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai denied there was an MCA-PAS alliance, and said PAS had campaigned for MCA on the grounds of providing a stronger check-and-balance against the new government.