MCA members free to attend Perkasa events

The MCA will not issue any official order to bar its members from attending any event organised by the Malay right-wing group.

Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters today, its president Dr Chua Soi Lek (right) said MCA is a democratic party and therefore will not prohibit its members from taking part in Perkasa’s functions.

“No, we don’t do that, we are not like some parties that talk about democracy, but in their press conferences, they say Utusan Malaysia and New Straits Times cannot come,” said Chua, referring to the ban imposed by the opposition DAP and PKR.

However, he thanked Sri Desa MCA branch chairperson Dr Collin Tiew for taking responsibility and resigning from all the party posts over the ‘white ang pow’ fiasco.

He said this proved that MCA has no ties with Perkasa.

“Some opposition (parties) like to link MCA with Perkasa, but this young man was only doing some charity and volunteer work.

“He was at no time representing MCA in attending the Perkasa event,” said the veteran politician.

Tiew (left), who is also the president of the Insan Welfare Society for Brain-Injured Children, came under fire for bringing some 50 people to Perkasa’s Chinese New Year event on Jan 29, where white envelopes filled with money were distributed instead of the traditional ang pow (red packets).

In Chinese culture, white envelopes are reserved contributions made at funerals, and Tiew was criticised for accompanying Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, who dished out the white envelopes, as well as for going on stage to translate Ibrahim's speech.

Chua to discuss Pandan seat with PM

On another matter, Chua’s archrival - former party president Ong Tee Keat - is reported to have been appointed Pandan BN division chief by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Commenting on this, Chua congratulated Ong (left) but pointed out that this did not mean the latter would definitely be the party's candidate in the coming general election.

“Congratulations, tahniah dan syabas, gong xi him... but I still will be discussing with the prime minister to decide on the candidate.

“The fact that a person is appointed as BN division chairperson doesn’t mean that he is automatically the candidate,” said Chua, who overthrew Ong for the president's post at the party’s extraordinary general meeting in 2010.

He further said that under the concept of  “winnable candidates”, a person must get the support from within and outside the party.

“You want to stand under the banner of BN and MCA, and at the same time you condemn the party and BN, and that to me is wrong.”

Ong has made it clear that he will recontest in Pandan and would not consider any other seat.

The former transport minister was first elected as Ampang Jaya MP in a by-election in 1989. He held the seat until 2004 when it was delineated into Ampang and Pandan, and Ong continued his term in Pandan.

In the 2008 ‘political tsunami’ which saw many BN incumbents being defeated, Ong retained Pandan with a 2,692-vote majority and become the only MCA parliamentarian in Selangor.


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