Media statement by Teresa Kok Suh Sim in Shah Alam on Sunday, 8^th May 2011:

MCA should rename itself the Malaysian Cowards Association for consistently being too chicken to stand up to the divisive racial threats of UMNO, Utusan Malaysia and Perkasa

MCA Vice President Liow Tiong Lai's accusation that DAP fans racial sentiment among the Chinese is childish because it is an obvious lie and backfires upon MCA for being a Chinese-only party with a track record of lacking the moral courage to stand up to the hate speech and divisive racial threats of UMNO, UMNO rag Utusan Malaysia, and Malay supremacist group Perkasa. Thus, it is high time MCA renamed itself the Malaysian Cowards Association to most accurately reflect their true principles.

Time and time again, MCA leaders have been too yellow livered to stand up for the interests of the Chinese whom they claim to represent, for fear of hurting their personal political careers. It was this spinelessness which led voters to reject MCA in the March 2008 General Elections.

Three years have passed since then, and yet MCA leaders are still in denial of their party's internal failings, preferring to blame external forces, particularly DAP. MCA leaders have been relentless in their crazed attacks of DAP, with laughable accusations that DAP is a racist party, particularly since last months' Sarawak state elections.

MCA President Chua Soi Lek fired first with the baseless accusation that DAP is dividing the good people of Sarawak. He further tried to frighten the Chinese in Sarawak with the veiled threat that they would have no representation in the state government should they vote for DAP instead of SUPP. In the end, Chua's words proved impotent because DAP won 12 out of 15 seats contested, winning on the back of Iban as well as Chinese votes as proven by independent political analysts.

As long as MCA continues to blame DAP, instead of addressing their own failings and the true enemies of Malaysia such as Utusan Malaysia, Perkasa and Pembela, and the race-based BN component parties that is UMNO, MIC and MCA itself, MCA can expect to be punished by voters again in the next general elections.

I urge MCA leaders to evolve beyond their selfish for-Chinese-only mentality, withdraw from BN's race-based politics and work for the interests of all Malaysians, regardless of their ethnic make-up. Until MCA leaders find the moral courage in which to do this, it is fitting that they rename themselves the Malaysian Cowards Association that they are widely perceived to be.

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