KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28: Two DAP MPs have delivered scathing rebukes on MCA’s silence over Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s involvement in the RM2.6billion ‘donation’ scandal, pointing out that if the Barisan Nasional component party has nothing to say, then it’s pointless to stay.
DAP’s parliamentary leader and Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang in a statement today questioned if MCA’s ‘protectiveness’ of Najib was born from selfish political reasons.
“MCA President Liow Tiong Lai should explain why the MCA’s 7/11 team of elected representatives (seven MPs and 11 State Assemblymen) are so protective of Najib’s RM50 billion 1MDB and RM2.6 billion “donation” scandals.
What’s the use of voting for MCA?
“Is the MCA’s over-protectiveness of Najib’s financial scandals a shield actually to protect the selfish political interests of the MCA leaders and to fob off any demands to cut down the number Ministerial and deputy ministerial posts given to MCA?” he asked.
While DAP MPs have been relentless in their questioning of the missing funds, Lim said Liow should explain why the MCA team in government had been completely silent and passive as far as the issues and principles of accountability, transparency and good governance are concerned.
“In fact, a former MCA deputy minister had flayed the MCA Ministers for “sleepwalking in Cabinet”, urging them to “pull their heads out of the clouds”, to address critical issues faced by the people,” Lim added.
“Has Liow or the other two MCA Ministers ever queried in Cabinet why the special task force had been dissolved before it could complete its investigations into 1MDB and RM2.6 billion donation scandals, and to find out who was now responsible for investigating into these two scandals?” he said.
Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, Kluang MP and DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong asked: “What is the use of voting for MCA anyway?”
Liew asked if MCA, with its access to Cabinet, have actually stood up for Malaysians.
“MCA President Liow Tiong Lai told the MCA Johor Annual General Meeting yesterday that Najib had agreed to “return” the seat of Gelang Patah to MCA, and that MCA is ready to unseat Lim Kit Siang,” Liew said.
Gelang Patah was a ‘swapped’ seat between Umno and MCA in the 2008 general elections. It was given to former Johor mentri besar Ghani Othman to contest, which Ghani subsequently lost to Lim by a 14,000-majority.
Liew said, most voters see MCA as a junior partner or even lackey to UMNO, and an accomplice in UMNO’s misdeeds.
“Indeed, the victories of Barisan in 1995, 1999 and 2004 were less about MCA’s own strength but can be attributed to non-Malay support for Prime Ministers Dr. Mahathir and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi respectively, for whatever reasons.
“The question is not whether the Barisan Nasional candidate for Gelang Patah comes from UMNO and MCA, as most voters won’t make the distinction anyway. It is a pity that MCA has to beg for seats and is not seen as an equal partner,” he added.
Liew said that the question for Malaysians to ponder is whether MCA, with its seven seats in Parliament, can rise to the occasion to speak up for all Malaysians in time of crisis and to redeem itself so that it is seen to be on the right side of history.
“The nation is concerned with the RM 2.6 billion donation to Najib, the 1MDB crisis, the free fall of the ringgit, the adverse impact of the implementation of GST, the use of the racial card via “red shirts” etc. Where is Liow Tiong Lai and the MCA?
“What’s the point of electing MCA members of parliament when they are just there to endorse UMNO and Najib’s misdeeds and to be the human shield for Najib so that he can stay in power forever?” Liew added.
– The Rocket
