MCA: Stop the “apartheid”-like segregation

The recent statements to forbid political engagements similar to the call by Dato’ Seri Abdul Hadi Awang that Muslims are forbidden to vote “kafirs” a few decades ago is worrying. The recent call by groups to “stay away” from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad or MCA to “stay away” from Umno or PAS smell of “apartheid”.

MCA was formed to cultivate and build inter-racial and inter-religious goodwill towards our national multi-racial and multi-religious tolerance and unity. It was for this purpose, the Alliance and the National Front were used as a platform and vehicle to promote tolerance, unity and harmony.

MCA is against all attempts to divide political parties along racial and religious lines when the very founding of these race-based parties was to inculcate racial understanding and tolerance towards national unity and harmony. We cannot allow these attempts to segregate race and religion to begin or continue. The attempts to introduce “apartheid”-like segregation and separation ought to be condemned.

MCA will continue to walk the path of moderation, tolerance and engagement towards the middle road. MCA is happy to note that PAS has abandoned their calls of not voting “kafirs” and moderated their stand of alienating or forbidding their voters from voting “Non-Muslims”. There is always a starting point towards moderation and MCA is happy to welcome all engagements towards moderation.

MCA has had a history and a good track record of watering down extremism and “ultras” in the past such as Dr Mahathir’s “Malay Dilemma” thoughts and philosophies, despite repeated attempts by Lim Kit Siang and DAP calling upon the Chinese to ostracise us for working with ultras and extremists. MCA is happy to note that we have succeeded in watering down racial and religious extremism in the past and will continue to hold onto the moderation and promoting multi-racial and multi-religious tolerance through the Barisan Nasional concept and platform.

Other parties can come and go or choose to join us or converge to form similar platforms of moderating and promoting tolerance and moderation. MCA would like to assure its members and the rakyat that at no time will MCA compromise on the rights and dignities of all Malaysians and will continue to uphold the spirit, intent and content of the Federal Constitution.

Senator Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker
MCA Publicity Spokesperson
MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman

-MCA online-