(Melaka, Wednesday) : MCA Melaka State EXCO member Koh Nai Kwong is very happy that he was finally awarded “Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM)” that carries “Datuk” this year by the Melaka State Governor. Koh would be among 85 people having been honored with the DMSM an increase of 16 from 69 last year. Ten other VIPs were awarded titles higher than DMSM, such as Datuk Seri Utama, Datuk Seri and Datuk Wira.

Koh’s joy at being finally made a Datuk at this critical juncture when the government is taking action against pig farms in Paya Mengkuang would not be shared by the affected 82 pig farmers. DAP urges Koh Nai Kwong to lead all MCA leaders in rejecting the Datukships and other titles awarded by the Melaka State Governor in protest against Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam’s high-handed, unfair and undemocratic action in closing down pig farms and reducing pig production from the present 145,241 pigs to 48,000 pigs in Melaka.

Any failure to do so would give the unfortunate impression that Koh and MCA leaders were awarded the title of Datukship for their good work in supporting Ali’s and the Melaka State government policies, which include closing down pig farms and reducing pig production. If Masjid Tanah MCA Youth can boycott the district level 50^th Merdeka anniversary celebrations because they were presided by pig-extermination proponent Alor Gajah MP Datuk Abu Seman Yusof, there is no reason why the titles can not be returned to the State government as a sign of protest.

Such a symbolic gesture would bring great meaning and significance for MCA leaders that they are willing to give up their long sought off titles on a point of principle to protest against mobilization of force and 2,000 government personnel against pig farmers on 4 September 2007 and to stand together in solidarity with the affected pig farmers. After all not being called a “Datuk” is a small price to pay for upholding one’s principles and nothing compared to the sacrifice of losing one’s liberty by being imprisoned.

To date MCA has been unable to shake off accusations that they are working hand-in-glove with Ali Rustam and as an active accessory to UMNO’s ultimate objective of banning pig farming in Melaka. Despite the pig farmers’ complying with MCA’s requests and spending hundreds of thousands of ringgit recently to upgrade their environmental pollution control, they were still issued with closure notices. Why should clean pig farms be closed down when Ali had claimed that this is not a religious issue but purely an environmental issue?

When Ali sent 2,000 government personnel, police, FRU personnel armed with sub-machine guns, two water cannons lorries and helicopters to surround Paya Mengkuang New Village to cull pigs, no MCA leaders were present to face off the “attackers”. Only DAP leaders stood with the residents and pig farmers to finally turn back the “attackers”.

Instead of condemning the state government’s barbaric September 4^th invasion, MCA held a special members general meeting to condemn the DAP. Instead of lodging reports against UMNO’s harsh and irresponsible actions, Koh and other MCA leaders even lodged a police report against me and threatened to sue me for defamation. To date I have not received any lawyers’ letter nor any investigation by the police. Is this another publicity game of MCA to show their loyalty to UMNO and Ali?

MCA should stop playing double-faced politics by saying one thing in the Chinese press but never in the non-Chinese press. Such passive action against the attack on pig farmers and continued open support for Ali’s policy to cull pigs is a betrayal of the rights and interests of pig farmers in Paya Mengkuang area, who are mainly MCA life members. The Paya Mengkuang pig farming issue has allowed the Chinese community to see how they are rewarded for supporting BN in the 2004 general elections.

When DAP won seats, there was no attempt to close down pig farming in Paya Mengkuang. Only when DAP lost and BN obtained the support of the Chinese community, did Ali boldly act against pig farms. MCA leaders like Koh should signify the Chinese community’s unhappiness with Ali’s discriminatory and unfair policies by returning the medals and titles this year.

(17/10/2007)