Wee likens Pua's BN 'corrupt' remark to 'talak tiga'

Senior DAP leader Tony Pua calling BN “corrupt” is akin to pronouncing ‘talak tiga’ to the coalition ruling government, said MCA president Wee Ka Siong.

‘Talak tiga’ is an irrevocable third pronouncement of divorce for Islamic marriages.

Wee pointed out that it was strange for such a statement to be uttered as Pakatan Harapan and BN are gearing up to work together in the upcoming state elections.

“A leader such as Pua (above) lashed out at BN as a corrupt party. If you say (we) are a corrupt party, then you have pronounced ‘talak tiga’.

“Where is the basis for cooperation? I think this is odd.

“If we want to live up to the spirit of togetherness, the sincerity from the unity government should be clear,” he said in a video on Facebook today.

Wee added that the public would be confused about what is happening with the federal government when parties in the coalition make such remarks.

Once the parties are cooperating in a coalition, there is no need to bring up matters such as these, he said.

“I think this issue should be looked at… what is the basis, why does he want to get angry with others, when he had the support from his group, his party to become minister,” Wee claimed.

Move on, Pua

The Ayer Hitam MP advised Pua to move on, as said by many others including the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“Don’t wait till we have pronounced ‘talak tiga’ and then you ask to vote for someone else,” Wee said.

Speaking at the DAP Petaling Jaya fundraising dinner last night, Pua had reportedly urged Harapan supporters to prove that “a multiracial party that is clean and not corrupt” could do better “than corrupt coalitions like BN, Umno and Bersatu”.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke had earlier rebuked and distanced the party from Pua’s comments, saying the former MP spoke in his personal capacity.

Loke also said Pua’s “attack” on the coalition’s government’s main partner is uncalled for.

“DAP members who can’t keep their mouth shut on this matter are not welcome to speak on the DAP stage,” he added.

Ti wants DAP to take action

In a separate statement, MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker demanded DAP take action against Pua for his remarks.

Ti reminded the Harapan component party that DAP used to blame MCA and ask them to pressure Umno to act against “these nobodies in the party” for making “uncalled statements”.

He pointed out that Pua still holds a position in the party as the policy adviser to the DAP secretary-general and is hence considered a significant member of the party.

“Unlike Superman Hew, Pua is actually somebody in the party. He has been his (Loke’s) policy adviser since May 18, 2022.

“In view of the above and to debunk Pua’s statement that DAP can plan to go on its own without BN or Umno, who is said to be a corrupt party, Loke must not let this ‘pass’…

“Loke must therefore take disciplinary action against Pua, similar to actions taken against Superman Hew or sack him as the DAP’s policy adviser to the secretary-general to prove DAP’s commitment and conviction to the unity government,” Ti said.

He was referring to former DAP member Hew Kuan Yew, better known as Superman Hew, who was both popular with party supporters and highly controversial for his firebrand style of speaking at ceramahs.

Hew later quit DAP over a South China Sea row.

Pua’s remarks also drew a protest from Umno who is MCA’s coalition partner in BN.

In response to his comments, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki urged DAP not to field Pua as a candidate in the upcoming state polls if they wish for the coalition government to last.

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