DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today warned his party leaders against joining the Umno-MCA spat, claiming the government was planning another Internal Security Act (ISA) crackdown on the opposition, similar to the 1987 Operasi Lalang.
Lim described the ongoing “sandiwara” quarrel between Barisan Nasional allies Umno and MCA as a “chilling reprise” of the events during 1987 when the then MCA deputy president Datuk Lee Kim Sai sparred with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was then the Umno Youth chief, over an issue involving Chinese vernacular schools.
“This verbal media war between MCA and Umno was then used as a pretext by the BN to initiate Operasi Lallang.
“However, instead of detaining both Umno and MCA leaders involved, DAP, PAS and PSM leaders were detained. Lee was only asked to go on a holiday to Australia,” Lim (picture) claimed in a statement here today.
He recalled that among the notable opposition politicians detained were himself, Karpal Singh, Lim Kit Siang, Mohd Sabu, Datuk Mahfuz Omar and Khalid Samad.
A total of 117 people, including 16 DAP lawmakers, were detained during the infamous crackdown, he said. The licences of four publications – The Star, Sin Chew Jit Poh, The Sunday Star and Watan – were also revoked.
“DAP leaders should not fall into the same trap that the BN had set 23 years ago to use the sandiwara quarrel between MCA and Umno as an excuse to apply the ISA powers of detention without trial on the opposition
“Otherwise, DAP leaders will again be victimised and detained as happened in 1987, while MCA and Umno will escape unpunished,” he said.
Lim also claimed that the BN’s ploy was to use the quarrel to distract the public’s attention away from the country’s real problems.
“As BN faces challenges of rule of law, corruption, abuse of powers and a declining economy, playing up racial sentiments is an easy way of not being accountable for their failures,” he claimed.
Lim was referring to the ongoing spat between Umno and MCA over the Chinese-based party’s stand to push hard for the abolishment of the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity target.
During MCA’s Chinese Economic Congress over the weekend, the party had also called for economic liberalisation and a merits-based and needs-based system to enhance Malaysia’s competitive edge in the global arena.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had announced the congress’ proposal to allow the appointment of non-Bumiputras to government-linked companies as well as the creation of an open tender system for government procurements.
This raised the ire of several Malay leaders, including Malay rights group Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali, who warned that Umno would lose Malay votes if it bent to the MCA’s will.
Umno leaders like deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein later told Dr Chua not to undermine BN in his fight for the Chinese community and to stick to the coalition's struggles.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, reminded MCA that the unfair distribution of wealth had resulted in the 1969 racial riots, the worst in the multi-racial country's history.
Without missing a beat, Dr Chua shot back with a retaliation of his own, citing his disappointment with Muhyiddin for using the 1969 riots to warn him.
He also said that Hishammuddin’s response was an indication that “some BN leaders” had failed to learn from the coalition’s failures in Elections 2008, which saw it lose its two-thirds parliamentary majority.
Dr Chua also said he was not afraid to share views with its political foe DAP, provided it was for the good of the community.
Later in Lim’s statement, the Penang Chief Minister also reiterated his call for the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe the loss of RM52 billion in Bumiputera shares, claiming it had been “hijacked by BN leaders”.
“The Prime Minister himself had admitted that of the RM54 billion in bumiputra shares given out since the New Economic Policy (NEP) was launched in 1970, only RM2 billion remained in the hands of the Bumiputeras.
“Clearly, the RM52 billion worth of shares given to the few Malay or Bumiputera leaders were cashed out and sold off. Stern action and full force of the law should be unleashed at this open sabotage of the NEP.
“If the RM52 billion worth of Bumiputera shares still remained in Bumiputera hands, then the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity target under the NEP would have long been achieved,” he said.
comments
This is between MCA and UMNO. All PR reps should just stay away from it at all. Do not let BN has the chance to shoot PR back. Whether CSl wins or UMNO wins, sure this will jeoperdise their relationship.
As for PR, just stay out and watch what happen in the end. It may turn out to be a trap for PR reps.... Be smart as usual!
Yea, listen to LGE. Just go buy your kacang putih and Coke and enjoy the show.
They are looking for new things to complain about so that the Rakyat will be distracted from their 'internal' bickerings.
Be careful, they will drag you in for every single little thing. Don't give them any excuse or reason. Stay away from them is even better.
Do not involve in this Sandiwara.......they are just Distracting attention from the country's real economy prob !
This is part of 1Malaysia - MCA's Chinese opera and UMNO's Malay bangsawan!
UMNO will do anything just to stay in power. Just be cautious and plan your move. PR should come up with SOP, common stands on major issues, and shadow cabinet to counter UMNO. Forget about the component parties in BN.
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