Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, 12^th April 2012: 

Chua Soi Lek and Koh Tsu Koon must explain Penang MCA and Gerakan's support for Utusan Malaysia  

MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Gerakan President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon must explain Penang MCA and Gerakan's support for Utusan Malaysia by condemning me for a joking reference I made, during the presentation of Penang PR state government's annual allocations for Chinese and mission schools, that Sinar Harian is preferred over Utusan Malaysia as the latter is racist and against non-Muslims and non-Malays.

Utusan Malaysia had supported Perkasa in confronting non-Malays and non-Muslims and perpetuated lies to increase hatred amongst Malays. In fact, Utusan Malaysia had even labeled attacks against failure to act against corruption as an attack on Malays and that the May 13 tragedy that caused so much loss of life and bloodshed should be celebrated as a holy day. For this reason, I can not understand why any non-Malay student would want to read Utusan Malaysia that is filled with hate and lies.

I had jokingly said that non-Malay students reading Utusan Malaysia will have a distorted view of a life without any political, civil and economic rights and that they must accept their position as 2nd or 3rd class citizen even though their ancestors have been in Malaysia for hundreds of years.

For this reason, Sinar Harian is preferred over Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian as Sinar Harian does not preach hatred, lie or use the language of violence. I had won a defamation suit against Utusan Malaysia for spreading lies that I had banned the Maulidur Rasul procession and ordered the destruction of Malay kampongs. Further how can I politicise the issue when I did not ask that they choose Harakah, Suara Keadilan or Rocket but Sinar Harian which is not owned by PR?

I had expected attacks by UMNO leaders against me for promoting Sinar Harian over Utusan Malaysia, even though UMNO tries to play a racial game by claiming that I asked for a boycott of Malay papers like Utusan Malaysia without mentioning my preference for Sinar Harian. Is Sinar Harian not a Malay paper?

However I am surprised that Penang MCA and Gerakan has taken a strong position to support a racist paper like Utusan Malaysia against me. Is MCA willing to work with Utusan Malaysia solely for political gain.Perhaps this is a classic case of two racist organizations working together like birds of feather flock together.

Why is there a change in stand of MCA similar to MCA now opposing the Lynas rare earth plant in Kuantan when they had previously supported it? Or the failure by Chua to condemn Deputy Education Minister Puad Zarkashi for calling Dong Ziao Zong(DZZ) as a racist organization because of DZZ's pro-vernacular education rally on 25th March 2012?

Chua Soi Lek should explain this surprising transformation from supporting Lynas to opposing Lynas and from opposing Utusan Malaysia to supporting Utusan Malaysia. Clearly MCA is a party bereft of ideas and ideals as well as empty of principles and public interest.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan