MCA has slammed Sarawak DAP for its call for an end to Merdeka celebrations in the state, as it has no significance to Sarawak.

MCA publicity chief Chai Kim Sen said Merdeka is for all Malaysians, not just the peninsula, and accused Chong of trying to divide the country.

"Why is Sarawak DAP so ashamed of Aug 31? Why want to practise national division rather than forging national solidarity on our most cherished day of freedom from colonialism?

"Does Chong even see himself as a Malaysian citizen?" Chai asked in a statement today.

He also said that the Sarawak DAP chief's remarks played into racist stereotypes painted by controversial preacher Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, who said Malaysian Chinese were not patriotic.

Chong in a statement yesterday said the Sarawak government should stop spending millions to hold Merdeka day rallies, and focus instead on Sarawak's independence day celebrations on July 22, as well as Malaysia Day on Sept 16.

Chai, however, said there was nothing wrong with Sarawak celebrating Merdeka.

He cited how the US July 4 independence day is celerbated by Hawaii, which only joined the US in August 1959.

"However, the late entry of Hawaii as a US state did not stop Barack Obama, who hails from Hawaii, and other Hawaiians from commemorating the fourth of July every year.

"If Hawaiians can connect to July 4 Independence days celebrations, why can’t Sarawak DAP practise likewise with Hari Merdeka?" the MCA man asked.

Kelvin Yii, the parliamentary assistant for Sarawak DAP's Stampin MP Julain Tan, however, supported Chong's call, and rubbished criticism that it was a "regionalist" call.

"The core of the issue is not a call to divide, but rather mismanagement of taxpayers' money and the seemingly wrong priorities set by the Sarawak government on the allocations of public funds.

"Such a call is in no way a 'regionalist' call, neither was it an effort to urge the state to distance itself from our West Malaysian and Sabahan colleagues.

"On the contrary, it is a call for unity forged on accurate facts. It is not against patriotism, but rather it is about history."

July 22 is a public holiday in Sarawak, and is celebrated grandly by the state government.

Sarawak, Sabah, Singapore and Malaya joined to form Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.

Sabah, then known as North Borneo, gained independence on Aug 31, 1963.