13 November 2018

Press statement by MCA Youth Deputy Chairman Tan Chee Hiong


DAP has two options on Parti Amanah’s claims that no races have been marginalised in Malaysia

DAP is urged to have the courage to stand up against Amanah Deputy Human Resources Minister Dato’ Mahfuz Omar who alleged that “there never has been any marginalisation of any races, although Malaysia has not signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).”  

DAP’s position on this matter is very important as it relates to the principles and integrity of DAP. Over the past few decades, DAP had continuously hyped up a purported marginalisation and suppression of the Chinese and Indian communities in politics, economics, education, social and culture in Malaysia. Yet today, DAP’s ally claims that racial marginalisation has never occurred in Malaysia.  This remark is akin to self-contradiction from parties that use to form the Opposition. Thus it is absolutely necessary for DAP to come out and state its position.

DAP has two choices. Firstly, either to remain silent, whereby silence is equated to agreeing with Dato’ Mahfuz. If DAP really remains silent, the Rocket is thereby admitting that it lied when it claimed that the Malaysian Chinese and Indians over the past few decades had been discriminated against. DAP should thus own up and apologise to the rakyat for inciting ethnic Chinese and Indians with these lies.

The second option is for DAP to firmly oppose Mahfuz remarks and immediately  insist that he should apologise and rescind his remarks. DAP has 42 seats in the Dewan Rakyat. It holds a clear advantage to object against Amanah which has a mere 11 seats in the Dewan Rakyat. By opposing the remarks by Dato’ Mahfuz, DAP will show that it is sticking to its old position and upholds in principles, and is thus deserving of the rakyat’s respect. However, I believe that DAP is now used to being “quiet” within Pakatan Harapan, and is the probability of it standing to principles is low.

Tan Chee Hiong
MCA Youth Deputy Chairman

-MCA online-