MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker has cited several examples of how Pakatan Harapan's promise of a New Malaysia did not materialise after the coalition formed the federal government.

Therefore, the senator urged DAP to grow a “backbone” and exit the government in response to Lim Kit Siang stating that it would do so if the New Malaysia objective is abandoned.

“For most voters, New Malaysia was the doing away of all race-based parties. Bersatu had earlier promised it will eventually become a non-racial party and was formed to bridge the Umno gap and persuade hardcore Umno supporters to shift their support to Harapan.

“What is happening now in New Malaysia is that Bersatu is taking over from Umno and asserting its dominance... Bersatu has unashamedly included 'Ketuanan Melayu' as its primary ideology.

“If this is not abandoning New Malaysia, then what is?” he asked in a statement this morning.

Ti added that since Harapan formed the government, DAP ministers have stopped talking about a level playing field which transcends race.

Secondly, the MCA leader also trained his guns on Lim over the latter's alliance with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“To single out MCA for everything done wrong during the 22 years of Mahathir's rule (during his first tenure as prime minister) and returning to Mahathirism is a classic example of Lim's double talk,” he added.

Ti also acused DAP of being “spineless” when it remained silent on numerous abritrary decisions such as the third national car project, the United Examination Certificate (UEC) and the third vote, the last of which was rejected on the basis that it could trigger racial unrest.

“Is this not another racial threat against the Chinese in particular?” he asked.

“It was also unthinkable for DAP's father and son (Lim Guan Eng) to refer to May 13 as a caution that Icerd ( International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) should be left out of the New Malaysia formula.

“This is despite academic and progressive arguments in its favour by learned Malays and jurists. Is this not 'spineless' of DAP,” he added.

Apart from this, Ti also cited how Bersatu Youth called for Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy's removal on “racial grounds” in an act reminiscent of Umno Youth.

“This is like going back to the 80s and 90s of 'ketuanan' which is pretty obvious in Bersatu's ideology list. Sadly, the New Malaysia concept has failed before it even started,” he added.

Urging DAP to grow a “backbone”, Ti said: “Walk the talk and walk out (of the government) and support the 'new hope' of (former Umno lawmaker) Khairy Jamaluddin and (former PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and Rafizi Ramli.”

“Dare to change now? Please don't ask for 20 years for New Malaysia to take shape and later blame it on 'anybody or somebody' ala Harapan's manifesto lies,” he added.