MP SPEAKS | Congratulations to MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker who has successfully converted himself to be a big fan of the Umno-PAS pact.

When the Umno-PAS pact was first mooted, we have seen the objections from the then MCA president Liow Tiong Lai and deputy president Wee Ka Siong. We can also vividly remember the disagreement from Ti himself.

Things have changed after Umno has chosen to ignore MCA’s complaints and proceeded with its unilaterally declared co-operation with PAS. 

MCA may not be able to stop Umno, but the rightful thing for MCA to do for the nation is to leave BN and isolate Umno to its own support base. MCA has refused to do so, and continues to be the most loyal coalition partner to Umno.

The formalisation of the Umno-PAS pact presents a danger to nation-building, leading Malaysians back to the old foil of racial and religious politics. 

Ti is right to mention about the need to narrow the racial and religious divide in a multiracial Malaysia, but he has actually slapped himself hard in endorsing the Umno-PAS pact.

BN is the maestro at playing divide and rule politics. 

There had been countless attempts by Umno to label DAP as “anti-Islam”, “anti-Malays”, but no proof was ever furnished by the accusers when challenged.

There have also been repeated accusations by Umno that DAP is controlling the Pakatan Harapan government. On the other hand, MCA had been accusing DAP of not able to control the government. So, what is the real stance of BN?

MCA may have tasted the sweet memories of the Umno-PAS pact in the by-elections, especially the Cameron Highlands polls. This may be the reason why MCA has made a 180-degree turn in its approach, despite the strong call from the MCA 65th annual general meeting in December last year, to dissolve BN.

MCA is now endorsing the toxic politics of race and religion to be escalated in Malaysia. Is MCA putting its own political interest above the interest of the nation?

WONG KAH WOH is MP for Ipoh Timor.

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