Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, 2^nd February 2012: 

Dr Tiew Chew Ming, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek can no longer hide MCA's links and UMNO's open support with Perkasa  

By refusing to criticise the refusal of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to condemn Perkasa for distributing "White Pows" and not taking action against MCA Seputih Division Committee Member Dr Tiew Chew Ming, MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek can no longer hide MCA's links and UMNO's open support for Perkasa. What is the use of condemning the racist Perkasa when Chua should also have asked why the Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib did not condemn Perkasa for blatantly trampling over the sensitivities of the Chinese community by distributing white instead of red ang pau during Chinese New Year?

Clearly the Prime Minister's refusal to condemn Perkasa only proves UMNO's open support for Perkasa racist objectives in creating their own version of "Asian Apartheid" by wanting to divide Malaysians into favoured "first-class" and discriminated "second-class" citizens. MCA is equally guilty by failing to act sternly against its Sri Desa Branch Chairman and Seputeh division committee member Dr Tiew Chew Ming, who has been exposed as openly assisting Perkasa by ferrying elderly citizens to Perkasa's event and spoke publicly in defense of Perkasa.

Such open linkages with Perkasa by UMNO and MCA contrast with the openness of PAS in respecting the religious and cultural sensitivities of the Chinese community. PAS leaders not only distributed ang pau, mandarin oranges and Chinese New Year cards to market traders but also to a pork seller, with his pork openly displayed. Will UMNO leader have a green lion dance performance or do what PAS leaders have done?

The time for racist parties like UMNO and MCA is over. Malaysians regardless of race must reject not only extremist Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia but also UMNO and MCA, that has divided the people for 55 years and robbed the country of trillions of ringgit by relying on racial rhetoric.

Star had a front-page report yesterday quoting Customs deputy director-general Datuk Zainul Abidin Taib as saying that 7 high-tech cash scanners capable of detecting bank notes in luggage are to be installed at all entry and exit points in the country to curb the illegal outflow of money that has amounted to bilions of ringgit. US-based watchdog group Global Financial Integrity in its annual report said Malaysia lost RM150bil in illegal outflow of cash in 2009.

Malaysia was the fourth highest among developing nations, losing US$338bil (RM1.08trillion or 1,077 billion) between 2000 and 2009. Are we to lose another trillion ringgit or go bankrupt first before realising that we are being distracted from fighting corruption by supporting extremists and racists?

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