In the Star on Jan 29, Dr Ling Liong Sik was reported as describing Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposal that PAS rejoin BN as "sincere" and a call for unity. Ling was also reported to have said that "a split community would not be able to advance its own agenda".

Ling seems to be supporting Mahathir and other Umno leaders in welcoming PAS into BN again. But didn't MCA claim in its 1999 general elections campaign that DAP's presence in Barisan Alternatif means the party supports the creation of an Islamic state? By the same "rationale", is MCA now supporting the creation of an Islamic state?

I hope that the MCA leaders who demanded PRM vice-president Rustam A Sani to apologise to the Chinese community over his allegedly insulting article can clarify this matter.