Press Statement by Loke Siew Fook in Petaling Jaya on Thursday, 22^nd January 2009:

DAP does not need to apologize for educating KT voters on the need for clean, progressive and non-racial politics 

It is extremely ungracious of MCA political education bureau chairman Gan Ping Siew, in the wake of Barisan’s Nasional defeat in the Kuala Terengganu by-election, to proclaim that DAP owes non-Muslims an apology for campaigning for PAS.

Gan’s comments are an insult to the DAP leaders, staff and volunteers who campaigned wholeheartedly for eleven days with the spirit of unity. MCA has really hit a new low by showing utter disrespect to its fellow Malaysians’ right to campaign for their coalition partners. In contrast, DAP has respected MCA’s right to campaign for the BN candidate in the by-election and has looked forward to a healthy battle of ideas and inspiration. Perhaps MCA is finding it hard to get over the fact that DAP’s presence in the campaign trail has helped inspired a united push for change in the form of a Pakatan Rakyat victory.

DAP leaders have made it very clear that no policy, including Islamic law, will be made Pakatan Rakyat policy if it does not obtain approval from all Pakatan Rakyat parties. DAP’s campaigning for PAS in Kuala Terengganu represents the support of clean and democratic governance and non-racial politics that is envisioned by Pakatan Rakyat.

Contrary to Gan’s statements, it is MCA’s hypocrisy over the issue of a theocratic state that is misleading non-Muslims in this country. MCA’s silent approval on Tun Dr. Mahathir’s declaration of Malaysia as an Islamic state in 2001 and Dato’ Seri Najib’s own proclamation of the idea in 2007 should remind non-Muslim Malaysians of MCA’s confusing vision of Malaysia.

If we subscribe to Gan’s twisted logic, then MCA’s participation in the BN campaign is a betrayal to Chinese Malaysians as it is tantamount to supporting the kind of racial supremacy so proudly preached by its partner, UMNO. Therefore, MCA should apologize to the Chinese community for campaigning for UMNO in Kuala Terengganu.

I am deeply disappointed with Gan and MCA for espousing hypocrisy and the politics of fear that are clearly being rejected by the Malaysian people. MCA’s continued denial in the wake of yet another BN electoral defeat is precisely one of those ‘qualities’ that will sink the party into political wilderness in the very near future.

* Loke Siew Fook, DAP Political Education Director & MP for Rasah