3 May 2016

Press statement by MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker

Associating Chinese as “ultra-kiasu”, does Ridhuan Tee now realise that biologically, he is a “Keturunan sepet” notwithstanding his Islamic faith?

Ridhuan Tee has exhorted his hopes of seeing a Chinese Muslim President leading UMNO or PAS one day (Free Malaysia Today, 2 May 2016). As an academician, he has gotten his facts wrong. MCA has been admitting all Chinese inclusive of those with Chinese heritage even if they are officially a Malay and Muslim provided that they show their parentage are of Chinese lineage.

Ridhuan's assertion that MCA would likely never admit Chinese Muslims is shallow and wrong in fact.  MCA actually has more Chinese Muslims in the party than he would be surprised.

I wonder what's eating him now. Why is he suddenly moaning about Chinese Muslims being deprived, etc? Being a Muslim preacher and one of definite standing, it is odd that he should be distinguishing Muslims along racial lines. Why suddenly the distinction between Chinese Muslims and Malay Muslim? Is he envious that Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad became the 4th Prime Minister despite being of Indian descent?

Or has he suddenly realised that he is of "Keturunan Sepet" and is deprived of heading various Government institutions or organisations because he is "sepet" and not a Malay Muslim as alleged?

I wonder why the sudden focus on Malay Muslims and the sudden realisation that being a "sepet," you are to a certain extent disadvantaged.  That is the social political reality that Ridhuan should be fully aware of or realised sooner.

As a God-fearing Muslim preacher and academician, he should be preaching or fighting against such injustices or discriminatory practices instead of segregating races along "ultra kiasu" Muslims and the Malay Muslims or talking about or complaining against the "Keturunan Sepet" most of the time. He should make use of his platform to bridge better understanding amongst the "Children of God" instead of spewing prejudices or biasness against his own. That is not a "saudara baru" syndrome but is very pertinent in Ridhuan's case.

Despite being biologically a Chinese...Ridhuan does not understand the Chinese and should be humble and refrain from making sweeping statements or authoritative statements on the Chinese culture, attitudes or values. He maybe an Islamic scholar but is definitely not a Chinese scholar.

Despite the fact that Ridhuan seems to have tried very hard to dissociate himself from his roots, his roots seems to be haunting him now.

Correct me if I am wrong, but is he complaining that the highest offices escapes  you "if you are a Chinese Muslim" no matter how "Melayu" you want or tried to be?

If that is what he meant... Isn't it a racist statement?

Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker
MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman
MCA Central Committee Member
MCA Kuantan Division Chairman

-MCA Online-