24 July 2017

Press statement by MCA Penang Liaison Committee Chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng

DAP not being sidelined? Lim Kit Siang should stop deceiving himself

DAP Parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang’s argument that the party is not sidelined in Pakatan Harapan (PH) is all self-deceiving. Comparing the leadership of Barisan Nasional (BN) and that of PH, the difference is clear, and Lim Kit Siang can never deny it.  

According to the BN Constitution, each BN component party needs to appoint 3 representatives to attend the BN Supreme Council Meeting. This is irrespective of the number of lawmakers in each of the component party and includes even those without lawmakers in it.

Such an arrangement not only guarantees the representation of all component parties in BN, but also the equal standing of the different races. No one component party, or race will constitute more than 50 percent of representation in the BN Supreme Council.

Taking UMNO with 86 lawmakers as an example, although it constitutes about 65 percent of the 132 lawmakers in BN, it comprises only 10 percent representation in the BN Supreme Council.

Furthermore, the decision made by the BN Supreme Council is always guided by the principle of consensus, whereby the decision will not be approved as long as it is objected by any of the component party. Citing the PAS President Dato’ Seri Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) as an example, because all BN component parties failed to reach a consensus on the Bill, the BN Supreme Council finally decided not to table the Amendment Bill as a Government Bill.

On the contrary, PH in announcing its latest line-up of the 12 top posts for its leadership structure, has made the following absurd arrangements:

1)    As a party with 36 federal lawmakers, which constitutes more than 50 percent of the 71 lawmakers in Pakatan, DAP was given only 1 of the 3 Deputy President posts, 1 of the 4 Vice President posts and 1 Treasurer post available in the 12-person line-up. DAP’s representation makes up only 25 percent of the Pakatan line-up.

Despite being the most senior Parliamentarian in DAP, Lim Kit Siang was surprisingly not given any post.

If this is not regarded as marginalisation of DAP, then what is marginalisation?

2)    PPBM with only 1 lawmaker, is given the honourary Chairman’s post, as well as a Deputy President and Vice President posts.

While PKR has fewer lawmakers than DAP, it was also given de facto Leader, Chairman, Vice President and Secretary-General posts.

Is this the so-called democracy claimed by DAP?

In the 12-person top leadership structure line-up in PH, if we categorise it by ethnic breakdown, the 9 Malays represent about 75 percent of the total, while there are only 2 Chinese and 1 Indian in the coalition. If we categorise it further by East and West Malaysia, there are only 11 and 1 West and East Malaysian leaders respectively.

I would like to ask DAP, does such a ratio represent Malaysia?


Datuk Tan Teik Cheng
MCA Penang State Liaison Committee Chairman


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