Donald Lim calls for Chinese Perkasa

The 1Malaysia concept appears to be tearing apart with one BN component party leader suggesting a Chinese version of Perkasa to counter the right-wing Malay group's constant racial assaults.

MCA vice-president Donald Lim Siang Chai, who suggested the idea, also gave a strong hint that the proper body to take the role would be the vocal Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).

The MCA was not suited to take on such a responsibility as political parties and NGOs operate at different levels, he pointed out.

"The Chinese community and Chinese associations such as the KLSCAH can play such a role. MCA can only respond up to a certain level - it should be NGOs versus their counterparts," he said.

According to Lim (left), the Chinese community need not worry about Perkasa as they can organise a similar organisation of their own.

He rejected the notion that organising a pressure group to counter another will be akin to fighting fire with fire.

Certain issues are better brought out in the open through debate, he said.

Lim also expressed his confidence in the government's ability to handle Perkasa's aggressive demands.

However, he conceded that the government does have to take note of Perkasa's demands as "the country is a multiracial country and under the fair and balanced principle, we must consider demands from all."

He denied that the second part of the New Economic Model (NEM) which deals with the highly controversial issue of 30 percent bumiputera equity has been shelved under pressure from Perkasa's antics as claimed by the opposition.

He said the details are expected to be released by September or together with the budget when it is presented on Oct 15.

Lim was speaking to reporters during an interview with the Chinese press at his deputy finance minister's office in Putrajaya yesterday.

BN Chinese support only 30%

He also predicted that the general election will be held in a year's time.

Since Lim is also the Selangor state chief, he faces an uphill task in regaining Chinese support, who heavily favoured Pakatan in the March 8, 2008 general election.

Lim pointed out the Chinese support for the BN is around 30 to 35 percent nationwide, dipping to 20 or 25 percent in the Klang Valley.

"Our target is 50 percent support from Chinese voters. If we can get 40 percent, we should be happy. I am very practical: if I said we can raise the support to 80 percent, then it would be a lie."

However, Lim said the immediate task is to help BN regain Selangor, which Pakatan seized in the last polls.

The state MCA was almost annihilated in the last general election, winning only one out of the seven parliamentary seats and two out of the 14 state constituencies contested.

However, Lim said the party had analysed the multiple factors that led to the defeat, such as parachute candidates, and will start preparing to identify suitable candidates as early as possible to reduce party in-fighting.

Nevertheless, Lim was not perturbed at being disposed by PKR greenhorn Hee Loy Hian in Petaling Jaya Selatan, a parliamentary seat which he had held for three terms.

"Every party, no matter ruling party or opposition, has its strongholds. In highly educated areas such as Petaling Jaya, the electorate tends to tilt towards the opposition.

"If we lost in the opposition strongholds, there is no need to feel ashamed. Only if we lost in our stronghold will we have to close shop."

He said the voting pattern in other countries show that metropolitan areas favour the opposition as intellectuals tend to vote for checks and balance. If Pakatan took over Putrajaya, then he is confident he would win under the opposition ticket.

"Things will be different if we reach developed status as voters will start favouring candidates, rather than parties."

Replacing Tee Keat at Pandan?

He remained tight-lipped on the seats he had in mind to contest in the coming elections, but he is open to any suggestion.

This included former party president Ong Tee Keat's (left) Pandan seat, the sole constituency won by the MCA in Selangor in 2008.

Lim said as state chief, he can go for any seat.

"Everything is possible; some even suggested Penang since I hail from there. Most important is personal capability, I haven't had any inspiration as yet (whether to contest in Petaling Jaya Selatan). When I've decided, I will inform you," he told journalists.

Lim (right) also said he does not mind people labelling him a backdoor deputy minister for gaining his post through a senatorship.

"Every party has its own way of handling issues. The Barisan Nasional mechanism chose this way. Nothing wrong with it.

"Some even taunted me as ikan masin (salted fish) coming back alive (a Chinese proverb for resurrecting the dead). This is nothing. The most important thing is to help people when holding positions."

Earlier in the year, Lim's senatorship had come under fire earlier for having been procured not through the voter's mandate, but through the back door.