Media statement by Lim Kit Siang in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 10^th December 2010: 

Sad MCA leaders' grasp of Constitution and political principles so shallow - no wonder no MCA Minister dare to tell Muhyiddin that he was wrong and anti-1Malaysia in declaring he is Malay first and Malaysian second!

After I have thrown back the question to the MCA Youth leader and Deputy Education Minister, Datuk Wee Ka Siong whether there is any provision in the Constitution which bars a Chinese or Malaysian of any race or religion from being Deputy Prime Minister, I would have thought that all the top MCA leaders would have become more educated about the Malaysian Constitution.

But this does not appear to be the case, with Wee continue to persist with the question whether I agree with the Pas Mursidul Am and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat that only a Muslim can become a Deputy Prime Minister.

It is obvious that my answer is “No” but this seems to be too difficult for the top MCA leaders to understand or fathom.

It is sad that the MCA leaders’ grasp of the Constitution and political principles are so shallow.

No wonder no MCA Minister or Deputy Minister dare to tell the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that he was wrong and going against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia concept when the Deputy Prime Minister declared that he was Malay first and Malaysian second.

In fact, as a result of Muhyiddin’s anti-1Malaysia declaration, no MCA Minister or Deputy Minister dared to stand up in Parliament to demonstrate full acceptance of 1Malaysia concept by declaring that they are Malaysian first and Chinese second – despite being given so many opportunities by DAP MPs!

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Ipoh Timor