Stop living with a denial syndrome – A point by point rebuttal against the fake news circulated by KJ John

With all the wild accusations babbled by Malaysiakini contributor KJ John against MCA, one wonders to ignore them as signs of a mournful geriatric in the early stages of senility. But given the proliferation of fake news especially with general election fever in the air, and that many readers may absorb unwittingly and may be influenced, MCA has no choice but to issue a point-by-point rebuttal against these slanders and character assassination which at times, hinge on race prejudices. 

1)       On the fake news that “the (MCA) go to bed with PASt”, KJ John, please don’t confuse MCA with DAP which slept with PAS in 1999 via Barisan Alternatif, as well as in the 2008 and 2013 via Pakatan Harapan. Lim Guan Eng even inked an agreement on 29 April 2013 with PAS President Dato’ Sri Hadi Awang which clearly stated that “PAS berhak memperjuangkan aqidah dan konsep negara Islam secara sendiri.”  

Meanwhile, who formed the state government with PAS in Selangor? Obviously it was DAP which todate, continues to sleep with PAS in the caretaker Selangor state government, despite PAS having announced it has officially severed ties with DAP in July 2015.

KJ John, please wake up from your dreamland and be in touch with reality.

2)       On the fake news that “(MCA) have never spoken up against the Speaker…; and especially PUU355…”, kindly note, the correct reference is RUU355 – “R” being the short form for “Rang” in the Malay language denoting a legislative “Bill” to be tabled.

Our then MCA MPs Dato’ Koh Nai Kwong and Dato’ Khoo Soo Seang stood their ground and challenged the PAS Private Member’s Bill.  Nai Kwong pointed out that “PAS’ motion violated Article 8 of the Federal Constitution which states that all citizens are equal before the law”, while Soo Seang rightly alerted that “in 1984, when RUU355 was amended, PAS had yet to rule nor enact hudud enactments in Kelantan and Terengganu.”

DAP had 36 MPs in the previous term but for a debate of such urgency, why were Lim Guan Eng, Teoh Nie Cheng and Tony Pua chasing glamour by Facebooking live streaming along the corridors of the Dewan Rakyat, rather than “minta penjelasan” or objecting inside the Dewan?

Even when the PAS MP mentioned the names of Karpal Singh and Lim Kit Siang as not having opposed the amendments in 1984, their sons Gobind, Ramkarpal and Guan Eng simply maintained elegant silence.

Further evidence of MCA’s efforts and the futility of Pakatan MPs hail from Opposition members themselves. Then PAS Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar said that “MCA caused the Bill to be blocked resulting in complications today (Malaysiakini, 7 Apr 2017), while Pakatan Harapan Chief Secretary Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah said that “No Pakatan MPs intervened nor did anything that could be construed as preventing the tabling of the Bill (Sinar Harian, 7 Apr 2017).

3)       On the fake news that “(MCA) have never held (the women and youth) portfolios,” please be reminded that former MCA Vice President Tan Sri Ng Yen Yen was Minister of Women, Family and Community Development while current Wanita MCA Chairman Datuk Heng Seai Kie and MCA Vice President Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun were once the Ministry’s Deputy Ministers. Meanwhile, for MCA President Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat, current MCA President Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai and MCA Syariah Law and Policy Implementation Special Task Force Chairman Dato’ Gan Ping Sieu at one time were also Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports.

4)       On the issue of Chinese education, MCA’s records of safeguarding the Constitutional right to mother tongue education cannot be disputed. Be it the construction and relocation of 1,308 SJKCs between 1999 and 2017, or resolving teacher shortage issues, or obtaining recognition of university degrees from China or Taiwan, MCA has always delivered.

Through MCA’s effort, Chinese Independent high schools also achieved considerable breakthrough, including Chong Hwa Independent High School in Kuantan obtaining its permit in 2012, and the approval for Foon Yew High School to commence construction for its second branch campus in Johor.

On UEC recognition, Pakatan Harapan’s Manifesto states that UEC “akan dinilai agar setaraf dengan syarat am kelayakan sedia ada”  - meaning that the UEC will be assessed so that it is equivalent to existing entry conditions into public universities, whereas recognising the UEC is part of the BN Manifesto provided the holder has 5 SPM credits including Bahasa Malaysia and a pass in History.

5)       On the issue of “setting forth higher education at world stage”, MCA has proven exemplary success with UTAR and TAR UC. Since MCA established UTAR in 2002, UTAR’s academic standard is now ranked second in the country and even listed in international rankings.

In UK’s Times Higher Education 2018 World University Ranking, UTAR is ranked in the top-600, and second in Malaysia. In UK’s Times Higher Education 2018 Asian University Ranking, UTAR is ranked 99th in Asia, second in Malaysia.

For the record, Prof. Dr.Tai Shzee Yew was Deputy Vice Chancellor (Industry and Community Relations), Universiti Putra Malaysia from 1 Sept 2007 to 31 Aug 2013. Dr Khaw Lake Tee and Dr Lim Koon Ong have also been appointed as Deputy Vice-Chancellors of Universiti Malaya and Universiti Sains Malaysia respectively.

It is regrettable that KJ John attempts to revive “Yellow Peril” bigotry of Western imperialists from a  bygone era by absurdly accusing that “(MCA) is selling our Malaysian soul to the Chinese Communist business interests.” Why target China which is only the third highest investor in Malaysia? The cumulative investment from China (including Hong Kong) in Malaysia for 2017 amounted to RM65bil, which is lower than investments from Singapore (RM116.3bil) and Japan (RM71.6bil) [Source: MITI & Statistics Dept].

Opposition-led Selangor, Penang and Kelantan also conduct trade delegations visits overseas including to China. In fact, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng proudly announced that in 2017, Penang secured RM14.3 billion worth of investments from China.

China Ambassador to Malaysia HE Bai Tian has also informed that Chinese enterprises have achieved a high level of localisation in Malaysia. Citing the Malaysian Association of Chinese Enterprises as an example, he revealed that the average localisation rate of its nearly 100-member companies is 60% and that employees with more than 80% of the localisation of the company can be found everywhere (Oriental Daily, 15 Apr 2018).

On KJ John’s ludicrous anger that “even on the GST, they (Chinese Communists business interests) are exempted,” the ECRL is a government project. GST imposed would also be returned to the government. Exempting the GST is to reduce government processes. Moreover, since the project was funded through soft loans, GST would raise the total amount of loans and even interest.

7)       Regarding the “Digital Economy and Innovation” which KJ John disparages as a “FAKE PROMISE,” if his allegations hold water, then why does online trading innovator cum mogul Jack Ma of Alibaba fame tie-up with Malaysia’s DFTZ as its digital hub? 60,000 jobs are expected to be generated in 2025 through the digital economy in Malaysia alone.

8)       On the “Apa Lagi Cina Mau” slur after the 2013 general election, why does KJ John attribute this slur to the Prime Minister? Get your facts right. It was Utusan Malaysia’s headlines that spouted that derogatory question, not the Prime Minister.  

9)       On the issue of “land titles in new villages are still a limitation,” why does KJ John overlook the Pakatan-helmed Selangor state government which has the highest premium imposed among all states whereby RM1,000 is required as earnest money just to register a renewal. Title holders still have to pay another premium when the land title is transferred to a third party – this, compared to the successful renewal of land leases for 99 years in other states at a minimal premium.

10)     On “accessible healthcare”, Malaysia is ranked first among four countries with the best healthcare this year, according to InternationalLiving.com. As a pensioner, treatment and medications from government hospitals and clinics are free or charged at an absolute minimal.

1. Get a free consultation on your first visit to a specialist (with referral from a government medical officer). Subsequent follow-up visits would cost RM5 each.

2. Get free in-patient treatment as long as one is admitted to a class 3 ward. These treatment charges are as low as RM1:

Outpatient treatment at government clinics are only RM1. Professional consultation, lab test, X-ray, medication and other services are provided.

With only RM1, get physiotherapy treatment and carry out rehabilitation exercises if one is admitted to a class 3 ward.

A single tooth extraction costs only RM1 while radiological examination (dental - intra-oral) is RM1 at a class 3 ward.

KJ John should list out which other countries have cheaper public medical facilities for its citizens.

MCA urges KJ John not to fan racial or nonsensical sentiments. As a regular contributor to Malaysiakini, he should verify his facts objectively rather than descending to cheap tabloid sputter.

Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker
MCA Publicity Spokesperson

-MCA online-