Media statement by Ng Wei Aik in Georgetown on Tuesday, 26^th April 2011:

DAP Penang condemns Dr. Chua Soi Lek's statement that the DAP wants a 'monopoly' in Penang

The DAP Penang condemns Dr. Chua Soi Lek's statement that the DAP wants a 'monopoly' in Penang. This is an irresponsible comment for the leader of the 2nd largest party in the Barisan Nasional coalition.

The DAP prides itself in being a multi-racial party. Even though the DAP has a big number of Chinese members, currently the DAP has more Indian Malaysian MPs than any other party in Malaysia. Our commitment to multi-racialism continues with the inclusion of many Malay party members as well. The Penang DAP's representative to the Dewan Negara is Tunku Abdul Aziz, a Malay.

DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was merely asking MCA to not contest if it was not happy with a "Chinese vs Chinese" scenario. DAP welcomes a healthy and constructive opposition in its administration of the Penang State Government irrespective of race. It is MCA that continues to judge all forms of electoral contests in Malaysia through race, hence the "Chinese vs Chinese" comment by Dr. Chua Soi Lek himself. MCA is free to contest if it wants, but since they were to the ones to complain about avoiding a "Chinese vs Chinese" contest, CM Lim Guan Eng was just stating the obvious.

It was also Dr. Chua Soi Lek who was desperate enough to use political blackmail on the Malaysian Chinese community by echoing SUPP's warning about the Chinese losing all representation in a BN-led government. BN has shown that they are not a government for all Malaysians as they warn fellow Malaysians about unequal treatment should their community members not be voted in. In other words, they are telling the Chinese community "we may not do a good job, but you have no choice!"

This is a clear example of BN's 'divide and rule' policy that BN has inherited from our previous British colonial masters. Malaysia has effectively exchanged one colonial master with another. BN, led by UMNO has continued the British system in order to exploit their fellow countrymen.

Dr. Chua Soi Lek also remarked that he wonders if the DAP intends to work with UMNO by making the call for MCA not to contest. We like to remind Dr. Chua that he shouldn't push the blame to the DAP for his inability to stand up to his political masters in UMNO. DAP has challenged MCA time and again to leave the BN coalition since they are not happy with statements and policies made by UMNO. They refuse, now they accuse the DAP of conspiring with UMNO. Last we checked, MCA is a partner of UMNO, not the DAP.

It is MCA who refuses to change its communal settings. MCA has kept silent while UMNO continues to make racist statements at the non-Malay community in Malaysia. Is this the future that MCA is contented with? MCA continues to condemn the DAP on Chinese matters when it has time and again, failed to help the community as a mere protest from UMNO will send the top MCA leaders into submission.

The MCA has failed to understand that the Chinese community continues to reject BN component parties as they are seen to have lost all credibility in standing up for them. BN component parties are seen as toothless and their leaders are seen to be corrupted and incompetent. They, instead have placed their faith in a multi-racial party that includes all Malaysians that have the common goal of achieving "Middle Malaysia".

Ng Wei Aik, DAP Penang State Secretary & SA for Komtar