Liong Sik given 24 hours to repudiate  seditious statement by  MCA Central Committee member, Dr. Chua Soi Lek or a police report would be lodged by tomorrow

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Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang 

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Today’s Star carried a report under the heading "Ling: PAS, DAP disputes ruin their credibility" states:
 

"KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik said PAS and DAP had lost their credibility because they could not agree on issues.

"’Whatever PAS and DAP say cannot last more than 24 hours. They will surely change (their arguments),’ he said.

"He cited the PAS aim of setting up an Islamic state and the recent issue of whether a non-Muslim could become prime minister as areas which PAS and DAP differed.

""When they came out with their joint manifesto (DAP secretary-general Lim) Kit Siang happily said he was able to influence PAS to cancel its Islamic state plans.

"’But within 24 hours, when (Kelantan Mentri Besar) Nik Aziz and (PAS deputy president Abdul) Hadi Awang said PAS would not change the party’s main aim of an Islamic state, Kit Siang didn’t know where to hide his face,’ Dr. Ling told reporters after launching Tunku Abdul Rahman College’s four-day blood donation campaign themed ‘Together We Care’."

Last Friday, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad launched a UMNO campaign purportedly to expose and counter the lies being spread by the Opposition, but what Liong Sik said yesterday is the best proof that it is the Barisan Nasional leaders who are telling lies about the Opposition.

I had never at any time, whether before or after the launch of the Barisan Alternative Joint Manifesto "Towards a Just Malaysia" said that I could influence PAS to cancel its Islamic State plans and I challenge Liong Sik to substantiate his allegation.

It is not the DAP but Barisan Nasional parties, including the MCA, which had been indulging in the most irresponsible politicking undermining the very fabric of Malaysia’s plural society.

For instance, after Nik Aziz’s controversial statement that  PAS is prepared to accept a non-Muslim from the DAP as the Prime Minister, a national MCA leader, Dr. Chua Soi Lek, who is also Johore State Exco member, sought  to inflame Malay communal suspicions and  fears by  making the racist and seditious speech to Malays in Batu Pahat that "kuasa Melayu akan terhapus jika UMNO tidak diberi mandat secukupnya oleh orang Melayu dalam setiap pilihan raya umum".

Chua said in his   speech, as reported by Mingguan Malaysia:
 

''Percayalah kalau orang Melayu sendiri menghancurkan UMNO, kuasa Melayu akan musnah di Malaysia.  Sekarang UMNO mewakili orang Melayu menjadi parti tonggak dalam Barisan Nasional (BN).

''Kehancuran UMNO bermakna kehancuran kuasa Melayu. Fikirlah dan buatlah keputusan terbaik untuk orang Melayu.''

Can Liong Sik explain whether Chua’s  racist statement represents the official policy position of the MCA - and if so to state how "Malay power" would be destroyed if Barisan Nasional is denied parliamentary two-thirds majority in the next general election - or even if  Barisan Nasional is toppled by Barisan Alternative, which I do not personally envisage as a realistic possibility in the next election?

Is the MCA suggesting that with UMNO suffering electoral set-backs, Malay power would be replaced by Chinese power or Indian power - and if so, how could this come about when the overwhelming majority of the parliamentary seats in the country are dominant Malay constituencies!

This is the type of irresponsible  and seditious racial politicking to stoke up communal suspicions, fears and tensions that Malaysia can do without after four decades of nation-building and in our tenth general election in the nation’s history.

I give  Liong Sik 24 hours  to repudiate  Dr. Chua’s racist and seditious  speech or a police report for sedition would be lodged tomorrow.

(10/11/99)