Media statement by Teresa Kok Suh Sim in Shah Alam on Wednesday, 24^th November 2010:

MCA's Ti Lian Ker's continued baseless accusations towards Selangor State Government's no-racial-quota education loans continues to expose the hypocrisy of MCA's support for 1Malaysia

MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker's continued wild accusations that the Chinese have been neglected in the awarding of Selangor State education loans reeks of racism and exposes the hypocrisy of MCA's support for 1Malaysia.

Ti does so despite knowing full well that Selangor State EXCO for Education, Higher Education and Human Capital Dr Halimah and I had on our own initiative held a press conference on 16 November 2010 to raise awareness of the existence of the education loan and to openly encourage all who are eligible to apply.

Ti twisted our well-intentioned press conference and turned it into a racial issue and further clouded the matter with lies and figures plucked from thin air.

Deputy Minister Donald Lim had also been critical at first but he later admitted to me personally that he had not been aware that there were indeed only 12 Chinese applicants and that all were successful in their applicants. Thus, the approval rate for the Chinese is 100%.

Ti further claimed that MCA had "aided" the Chinese to obtain JPA scholarships and MARA placements without providing any figures to prove it.

However, Selangor's process of approving study loans is much more open and transparent as applicants do not have to go through political parties.

Best of all, Selangor State Government's education loans have no racial quota imposed, is interest-free and is available to all Malaysians based on academic merit and household income.

Ti would truly have something worth boasting about if MCA would only support the abolishment of racial quota in the awarding of JPA scholarships and MARA opportunities instead of perpetuating Barisan Nasional's race-based system of governance which continues to divide Malaysians for self-preservation. In which case, MCA would be helping all deserving Malaysians instead of the Chinese alone.

This entire episode shows Ti to be a man living in his own little cyber world, devoid of reality and will make up stories to achieve cheap publicity. He would do better if he tried harder on genuine issues and focused on facts instead of simply putting words into people's mouths.

* Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Selangor State Senior EXCO for Investment, Industry & Trade & MP for Seputeh