Rights of M'sians compromised by internal MCA feud: Kit Siang
DAP national chairman Lim Kit Siang today said that the bitterness and rivalry between MCA Team A and B has compromised and undermined the rights of the Malaysian Chinese community.
Lim, in a press statement, was referring to the controversy which has recently erupted over the Kong Ming lanterns, which has been totally banned by the police effective Thursday.
He said when the controversy started, MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik said the tradition of releasing the lanterns should be preserved as it encourages people to be "strategic thinkers."
Ling claimed that he was the one who introduced the lanterns in Malaysia about 10 years ago.
But when police imposed the ban followed by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's comment that it was only a partial ban to allow the lanterns to be released during the Chap Goh Mei celebration, Ling did "a total somersault and declared full support for the immediate and total ban", said Lim.
DAP national chairman Lim Kit Siang today said that the bitterness and rivalry between MCA Team A and B has compromised and undermined the rights of the Malaysian Chinese community.
Lim, in a press statement, was referring to the controversy which has recently erupted over the Kong Ming lanterns, which has been totally banned by the police effective Thursday.
He said when the controversy started, MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik said the tradition of releasing the lanterns should be preserved as it encourages people to be "strategic thinkers."
Ling claimed that he was the one who introduced the lanterns in Malaysia about 10 years ago.
But when police imposed the ban followed by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's comment that it was only a partial ban to allow the lanterns to be released during the Chap Goh Mei celebration, Ling did "a total somersault and declared full support for the immediate and total ban", said Lim.
Most deplorable
"From Ling's logic, does this mean that the Chinese in Malaysia are now condemned to be a race without strategic thinking," asked Lim.
"What is most deplorable is the different reactions of the MCA leaders...all because this had been reduced into a proxy fight to protect or attack Ling's credibility," added Lim.
Yesterday, Inspector General of Police Norian Mai said that the lanterns was a hazard to public safety, aircraft operation and would cause unexpected incidents such as fires.
Norian said the manufacture of and import of the lanterns are offences under Section 5 of the 1957 Explosive Act, which carries a maximum jail sentence of five years or RM10,000 fine or both.
Lighting and releasing the sky lanterns would entail offences under Section 285 of the Penal Code involving a six-month jail term or RM2,000 fine or both.
Senseless and destructive
Meanwhile, Lim said the best example of "such senseless and destructive" division in MCA is the mishandling of the worst dengue epidemic in the nation's history.
Health Minister Chua Jui Meng, aligned to Team B, had indicated that he was not responsible for the epidemic and appeared to be pushing the responsibility to Housing and Local Government Minister on Ka Ting, who is a Team A member, Lim added.
"It reached a ridiculous stage when a malaysiakini reporter asked Chua at a press conference on Friday for an update on the situation and Chua gave a flat refusal of "no".
"And when the same reporter posed another question on Suhakam's (Human Rights Commission) call to the ministry to be responsible and committed in handling the dengue epidemic, Chua left the room in a hurry," said Lim.
