MCA Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai today condemned Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) over an article in its flagship magazine Dewan Masyarakat for inciting racial sentiments.

(DBP is a government body tasked with coordinating the use of Bahasa Melayu).

Written by Prof Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, the article insinuates that the current political climate revolves around a clash of ideals between 'Malay political supremacy' and 'Chinese economic supremacy', said Liow.

He questioned the figures in the article which asserts that the Chinese community controls 60 percent of the country's wealth, while the Malays, who make up 60 percent of the population, controls only 19 percent.

"We cannot assume that because a street has a lot of billboards (written in Chinese), the Chinese control overwhelming portion of the economy," said Liow in his opening speech at the MCA Youth annual general assembly today.

Chinese made scapegoats

He asserted that the large government linked conglomerates such as national energy company Petronas, national utility Tenaga Nasional and Telekom, were the real corporate giants.

"The Chinese has little share in them. It is obvious that the strategic economic field is led by the Malays even in the banking centre. How many Chinese banks are left? Where is the so-called Chinese economic hegemony (as indicated in the article)?" he added.

Liow told delegates he believed that those behind the article were out to make "scapegoats" of the Chinese community and create racial tension among the two ethnic groups.

He said the term " Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy)" was creating confusion as it originates from the days of feudalism, and thus should be replaced with " Warisan Kedudukan Melayu (Malay inherited status)" as mooted by former University Malaya vice-chancellor Prof Syed Hussein Alatas.

"MCA Youth accepts that the Malays control the politics of the country. (So) there is no need to blow up such issues, which will create social tension,

"I would like to remind BN partners that we are all brothers. There are no enemies here, there is no need to fight with your own shadows," said Liow, adding that those who exploit racial issues usually are out to shift attention or make political gains.

Meanwhile, MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy in his speech said that the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition has lost many seats in the recently concluded Sarawak state elections.

"We cannot look down, underestimate or ignore the results of this elections. Public support is not to be taken for granted as it can be taken away," said Chan in urging members to shed their nonchalant approach towards politics.