Soi Lek vows no let up against PAS' Islamic ideals
Regina LeePublished: Jan 24, 2011 10:02 PM | Updated: Jan 25, 2011 9:10 AM
MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek said he will continue to use PAS’ Islamic state agenda as an issue for the Tenang by-election as it was his duty to do so as the party president.
TENANG
Dr Chua Soi Lek said it was his duty as MCA president to speak against PAS' Islamic state agenda in the by-election campaign.
MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek said he will continue to use PAS’ Islamic state agenda as an issue for the Tenang by-election as it was his duty to do so as the party president.
Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister and BN polls commander-in-chief Muhyiddin Yassin had ordered Chua to stop criticising PAS’ candidate Normala Sudirman’s refusal to shake hands with men.
Asked about this evening during a press conference at the Labis Moral Uplifting Society office, Chua said that Muhyiddin should have communicated with him through internal channels.
"If the DPM doesn’t want us to talk about the Islamic issue, then he should communicate to us. There is no need for the DPM or the media to communicate this to us.
"When we talk about the Islamic state issue, it is something that’s not new, it’s not something that’s extraordinary or something that we pluck out from the air.
“It’s something that’s based on the (PAS) constitution which clearly states that they want to set up an Islamic nation.
“As a Chinese-based party, it is my duty and I’ll be failing in my duty and MCA would be failing in its duty if we don’t explain to Chinese the true agenda of PAS, because (PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang) has said this very clearly,” he said.
The more conservative Muslims believe that shaking hands with non-mahram (un-marriageable men) is prohibited, but Chua and Gerakan Wanita chief Tan Lian Hoe have ridiculed Normala (left in purple headscarf) for this, describing it as a move towards Islamic theocracy.
MCA vice-president Liow Tiong Lai, in joining the fray, had said Normala’s (left) refusal to shake hands with male voters reflects the conservative and theocratic ideology behind PAS.
However, Muhyiddin had called on for everyone to stop the debate, saying that BN should not exploit Normala's personal choice.
‘Shaking hands is good manners’
Chua pleaded ignorance about the religious sensitivities involved, stating that he does not practice Islam.
“I have been in the public life for many years. It’s part of the basic culture and manners to shake hands.
“So what is so great about that? That is your religious value which I don’t know. How am I to know about the religious values when I’m not practicing that religion?” he said.
"For example, when I came in here, I shook everyone's hands. If I didn't do that, they would have said that I'm how lian (arrogant in Hokkien)," he said.
Asked if he would stop raising about the hand shake topic, he proceed to scold the reporter who asked him this but remained non-committal.
“As I’ve said over and over again, or were you pretending not to hear that? It’s not an issue to me if they think it’s their religious values not to shake hands.
“But I have the right to say that it’s basic manners to shake hands with people. That’s my values. Understand? You also must value my value, which is good manners, which includes shaking hands,” he said.
Onslaught against Malaysiakini
Before the beginning the press conference, Chua poured vitriol over Malaysiakini's reporting of MCA’s campaign in the Tenang thus far.
“Every word we say you twist it by saying that I have no brains or I’m tainted. Congratulations. The more they write, the more famous I become. I’m used to it, my dear,” he told a Malaysiakini reporter.
“If you think that by doing that you’ll demoralise me, you’re wrong, and you can (publish) it. I got no problem. But be prepared to be attacked.
“When you attack people, be prepared to be criticised. That’s life, that’s lesson number one - don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do to you.
“So if you consistently attack people, and people attack you, don’t get offended. I know you’re doing your work, but be fair to us.
“You can do anything to demonise me, but we can do a lot of things as well if you want us to. I’ll level up to you very fairly,” he said, unprovoked.
Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister and BN polls commander-in-chief Muhyiddin Yassin had ordered Chua to stop criticising PAS’ candidate Normala Sudirman’s refusal to shake hands with men. Asked about this evening during a press conference at the Labis Moral Uplifting Society office, Chua said that Muhyiddin should have communicated with him through internal channels.
"If the DPM doesn’t want us to talk about the Islamic issue, then he should communicate to us. There is no need for the DPM or the media to communicate this to us.
"When we talk about the Islamic state issue, it is something that’s not new, it’s not something that’s extraordinary or something that we pluck out from the air.
“It’s something that’s based on the (PAS) constitution which clearly states that they want to set up an Islamic nation.
“As a Chinese-based party, it is my duty and I’ll be failing in my duty and MCA would be failing in its duty if we don’t explain to Chinese the true agenda of PAS, because (PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang) has said this very clearly,” he said.
The more conservative Muslims believe that shaking hands with non-mahram (un-marriageable men) is prohibited, but Chua and Gerakan Wanita chief Tan Lian Hoe have ridiculed Normala (left in purple headscarf) for this, describing it as a move towards Islamic theocracy. MCA vice-president Liow Tiong Lai, in joining the fray, had said Normala’s (left) refusal to shake hands with male voters reflects the conservative and theocratic ideology behind PAS.
However, Muhyiddin had called on for everyone to stop the debate, saying that BN should not exploit Normala's personal choice.
‘Shaking hands is good manners’
Chua pleaded ignorance about the religious sensitivities involved, stating that he does not practice Islam.
“I have been in the public life for many years. It’s part of the basic culture and manners to shake hands.
“So what is so great about that? That is your religious value which I don’t know. How am I to know about the religious values when I’m not practicing that religion?” he said.
"For example, when I came in here, I shook everyone's hands. If I didn't do that, they would have said that I'm how lian (arrogant in Hokkien)," he said.
Asked if he would stop raising about the hand shake topic, he proceed to scold the reporter who asked him this but remained non-committal.
“As I’ve said over and over again, or were you pretending not to hear that? It’s not an issue to me if they think it’s their religious values not to shake hands.
“But I have the right to say that it’s basic manners to shake hands with people. That’s my values. Understand? You also must value my value, which is good manners, which includes shaking hands,” he said.
Onslaught against Malaysiakini
Before the beginning the press conference, Chua poured vitriol over Malaysiakini's reporting of MCA’s campaign in the Tenang thus far.
“Every word we say you twist it by saying that I have no brains or I’m tainted. Congratulations. The more they write, the more famous I become. I’m used to it, my dear,” he told a Malaysiakini reporter.
“If you think that by doing that you’ll demoralise me, you’re wrong, and you can (publish) it. I got no problem. But be prepared to be attacked.
“When you attack people, be prepared to be criticised. That’s life, that’s lesson number one - don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do to you.
“So if you consistently attack people, and people attack you, don’t get offended. I know you’re doing your work, but be fair to us.
“You can do anything to demonise me, but we can do a lot of things as well if you want us to. I’ll level up to you very fairly,” he said, unprovoked.
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