The ineffectiveness of BN component party MCA to bring about action on recent cases of racist school staff proves that the Chinese party is "completely ineffective and marginalised" in the government, says the DAP.

NONEThe party's national publicity secretary Tony Pua (left) said that MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok's statement calling for the Education Ministry to act against a Sarawak primary school administrator accused of racism was one in a string of such calls over similar issues that had yielded no results.

"It proves that MCA is now officially reduced to trying to meekly voice its views from the outside, because it is completely ineffective and marginalised on the inside of the government," said Pua, who is also PJ Utara MP, in a statement today.

"One could almost be forgiven for forgetting that the MCA is actually the second largest component party of the ruling BN government.

"What is perhaps most damaging is the fact Loh seems to have himself forgotten the fact that MCA Youth Chief Wee Ka Siong holds the position of a deputy minister in the Ministry of Education," said Pua.

Fried rice and pork sausages

Loh yesterday issued a statement condemning as "disturbing" the caning of a 10-year-old boy by his school administrator simply because he had brought fried rice and pork sausages to school for recess.

The incident took place in SK St Thomas in Kuching, with the senior assistant in the primary school allegedly having caned the boy about 10 times for bringing non-halal food to school.

"We would like to commend MCA for being quick to the draw to demand for action," said Pua, acknowledging that the BN component party had also spoken out over two previous cases of racist school principals.

malaysiakini interview loh seng kok 061108 01He reminded how In August Minister of Housing and Local Government Chor Chee Heung from MCA called for the Bukit Selambau school principal who had made racist remarks to his students to be "punished to set an example to everyone".

He noted that Loh (left) himself had earlier also called for the school principal of Kulai's SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Siti Inshah Mansor to be "severely disciplined" for making derogatory and racist remarks against her Indian and Chinese students.

Halt intolerance

Pua added that Loh had at the end of September called for action against the deputy director of the National Civic Bureau (BTN) Hamim Husin, and quoted Loh saying that it was "shameful for a public servant employed to train upcoming civil servants to use derogatory, stereotypical terms that offended the Chinese and Indian communities... If necessary, the police should also charge Hamim under the Sedition Act. It is time to put a halt to the arrogance and intolerance of bigots."

Through all this, says Pua, "no definitive action appears to have been taken by the BN government" adding that the minister of education himself Muhyiddin Yassin had "abdicated from his responsibility" claiming he was "powerless" to act.

Pua also noted that the parliamentary speaker had also rejected DAP's motion to debate the issue.

"Until today, Malaysians have not been given a straight answer on the actions taken and punishments meted out to these culprits, who are not only poisoning the minds of our young Malaysians, but are among the root causes of national disunity and racial intolerance in the country," said the PJ Utara MP.

Pua reminded Loh that the latter had expressed concern over Muhyiddin's announcement at the Umno AGM that history would be made a compulsory SPM subject, and had said, "distrust can be bred if the history textbook's contents are incomprehensive but emphasise racial superiority while negating the contributions of other races, or downplaying other worldwide civilisations."

"MCA should perhaps stop whining like a kitten ... and start acting on the above critical issues like it is part of the government," said Pua.