Media statement by Teresa Kok Suh Sim in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 14^th December 2011:

MCA should state conditions attached to any of its public service from the start

MCA's insistence that MP for Serdang Teo Nie Ching and MP for Bukit Mertajam Chong Eng are "ungrateful" for "not having shown gratitude" for having been a beneficiary of MCA's public service in the past is a petty and pointless attempt to score political points.

Negri Sembilan MCA chief Dr Yeow Chai Thiam has been repeating the lie that Teo Nie Ching has not thanked him for having assisted her sick mother in 2009, ignoring the fact that she had thanked him many times, back then and even during her speech before an audience of 1,500 people last Thursday. (Source: Negri MCA chief, DAP MP spar over sick mum http://malaysiakini.com/news/183956)

Sabah MCA vice-chairman Chew Kok Woh parroted Dr Yeow's lie and further reminded Chong Eng that she had studied at the MCA's Tunku Abdul Rahman College. (Source: Opposition MPs benefited from efforts initiated by MCA, says Sabah leader http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/14/nation/10089746&sec=nation )

I too spent a year studying at Tunku Abdul Rahman College, but that does not allow me to abdicate my duty as a Member of Parliament to be the voice of the people and criticise the wrongdoings of the Barisan Nasional Government, including MCA leaders. The same goes for Teo Nie Ching and Chong Eng who are Members of Parliament as well.

Surely MCA does not expect Malaysians who accept any form of service from MCA such as admission into Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman or funding from the 1MCA Medical Foundation to be permanently indebted to MCA and thus, be in blind support of all of MCA's political ambitions thereafter?

If there are any conditions attached to accepting any of MCA's public service, MCA should make these conditions clear from the start. It is truly petty and childish of MCA to bring up their contribution again and again years down the line to chastise supposedly ungrateful beneficiaries.

My advice to MCA is to be sincere in serving those in need by not expecting anything in return. The public is not interested to know how many thank-you notes MCA receives but in how MCA can possibly divorce itself from Barisan Nasional's race-based politics and from within itself so that our children can have a brighter future.

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