22 November 2018

Press statement by MCA Vice President Datuk Tan Teik Cheng

DAP urged to express its stand over Tun Mahathir’s remarks that ‘‘Mainland Chinese must not come purchase land in Malaysia’’

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad’s remarks that ‘‘Mainland Chinese must not purchase land in Malaysia, or else Malaysia will become a province of China’’, has obviously contradicted with DAP’s earlier expression of desire to strengthen Malaysia-China relations. Therefore DAP is urged to make a stand on this matter.  

I would like to ask DAP leaders, as to whether such remarks were issued with the informed consent of DAP. Was DAP unaware of this and merely played the ‘‘yes-man’’ role here?

Ever since Pakatan Harapan and Tun Mahathir came into power, they have been unfriendly towards China in many ways, such as suspending and cancelling the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) and two oil and gas pipeline projects. Such s move has cast a shadow on China-Malaysia relations. Meanwhile, Tun Dr Mahathir also frequently made a fuss about land purchases by Mainland Chinese in Malaysia, trying to ‘‘demonise’’ the purpose of foreigners’ property investment in Malaysia using hypothetical statements.

For instance, Tun Mahathir had in the 1 September 2018 during the Bumiputera Economic Congress claimed that ‘‘if 3 million Chinese were to purchase property in Malaysia, the Malays will have nowhere to go, and may end up relocating to the forest. Recently he also issued another seditious remark saying that ‘‘Mainland Chinese must not purchase land in Malaysia, or else Malaysia will become a province of China’’. Obviously this statement has contradicted other China-friendly remarks of DAP leaders including Lim Kit Siang, Anthony Loke, Tan Kok Wai!

DAP must answer now that, whether the party has consented to Tun Mahathir’s remarks? If the remarks were issued without DAP’s agreement, does this imply that DAP is not in the position of authority even in the current government administration? Is the Special Envoy to China Tan Kok Wai, a puppet or yes-man of the Prime Minister?

I believe that if DAP agrees with Tun Mahathir’s remarks, it only confirms DAP’s real attitude towards China. If DAP disagrees with it, then the party must be dare to come forward and condemn Tun Mahathir, rectify his remarks to show DAP’s pro-China stand.

Datuk Tan Teik Cheng

MCA Vice President
MCA PRC Affairs Committee & Belt Road Initiative Centre Chairman

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