The three MCA Ministers should raise the disgraceful episode of the gratuitous, baseless, malicious and savage UMNO attacks on Robert Kuok and ask the Prime Minister to tender a public apology to Kuok

Tomorrow is the weekly Cabinet meeting, where the three MCA Ministers should raise the disgraceful episode of the gratuitous, baseless, malicious and savage UMNO attacks on tycoon Robert Kuok and ask the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razaj to tender a public apology to Kuok.

The performance of the top MCA leaders in the past three days was just a crying shame and a dismal disgrace.

I said in Batu Pahat two days ago that in my 53 years in politics, I have not received a single sen from Kuok, whether directly, through his nephew James Kuok or anyone else.

This is however a different kettle of fish as far as MCA and even Barisan Nasional are concerned, as Kuok had not only made large donations to MCA and Barisan Nasional in previous general elections (according to Kuok’s memoirs), the tycoon is the benefactor and savior of MCA, having bailed out the then MCA President in 1986 in a Singapore court for the astronomical sum of RM20 million and rescued many MCA business ventures from doom and collapse.

If I, despite not receiving a single sen from Kuok in the past 53 years, can speak up for Kuok to ensure a flagrant injustice is not perpetrated, I think it is a crying shame that MCA which had received tens of millions of ringgit of aid from Kuok dared not speak up against the injustice of the gratuitous, baseless, malicious and savage UMNO attacks on Kuok.

I do not know Kuok intimately, but in the few times I have met him, I found him to a quintessential Malaysian!

Now that Kuok has spoken up, I can endorse his statement that any assertion that he has forgotten his roots are entirely false.

I always find him to be concerned about the future and wellbeing of Malaysia, marked by a deep appreciation for the opportunities he had in this country, fully recognising the contributions made by Malaysians of all creeds, races and religions towards the development of Malaysia. Any suggestion that Kuok wants the Chinese to rule Malaysia is not only bizarre and far-fetched but highly defamatory.UMNO leaders should explain why they fall for this conspiracy theory against Kuok.

Let the three MCA Ministers tell Malaysians what they have done at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

Lim Kit Siang DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Gelang Patah