Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) vice-president Rustam A Sani said that he need not apologise to MCA Youth because he did not question the integrity of the Chinese community as charged by the Chinese-based political body.

National news agency Bernama reported yesterday that MCA Youth deputy secretary-general Liaw Tiong Lai demanded an apology from Rustam for allegedly accusing the "Chinese community of being easily manipulated by whoever was in political power and that the community could not be trusted".

According to Liaw, the PRM leader had "insulted the intelligence, honour and integrity of the Chinese community in the country".

Clarifying his stand, Rustam said, "Liaw's comments on my recent article in Berita Keadilan clearly shows that it is not the intelligence, honour and integrity of the Chinese community in this country which were discredited. Instead, it is the intellectual capacity of MCA Youth to understand a short, simple article that becomes questionable."

He said that he was merely describing the "perception in some quarters (not even my own perception) concerning the Chinese voters as being unprincipled voters".

Malaysiakini reported on Monday that Rustam had written that "the agreement between Suqiu and Umno Youth last week proves the perception among certain sections that the Chinese voters in this country are 'not principled' and 'cannot be made long-term comrades'. ([#1] Pengundi Cina boleh dianggap 'tidak berprinsip' [/#], Jan 8)

"Due to such a decision, the Chinese election appeals committee has to bear the perception of other races that the Chinese voters in this country are not 'principled long-term and high-standing political supporters'.

In the article that was also published in the Keadilan party bulletin today, Rustam further wrote, "Their (the Chinese voters) support is thus easily manipulated by whoever is in power, based on the current narrow interests.

He added that "there are signs that this is also the perception held by (Prime Minister Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad)."

Incapability to understand

Rustam said in his article he also expressed the "concern that Suqiu's decision to set aside its seven requests at the behest of Umno Youth (friends of MCA Youth) could have the effect of rekindling and perpetuating that erroneous perception".

"As such, it was not my article that put the integrity of the Chinese community into question, but it was the incapability of MCA Youth to understand what it reads.

"I have no reason whatsoever to apologise to the Chinese community. Even if I do, I would certainly not do it through MCA Youth whom I do not recognise as having the moral right to represent the Chinese community in this country.

"Being a truly multiethnic party, PRM has as much right to represent and defend our Chinese compatriots," said Rustam.