Yesterday, MCA Publicity Bureau Deputy Chief Loh Seng Kok has belatedly criticized Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz’s policy of discriminating against non BN supporters.
MCA Vice President Datuk Wee Ka Siong and Gerakan Secretary General Datuk Ma Siew Keong had also made similar criticisms respectively on Sept 25 and Sept 26.
Till today, Mukriz has not taken up my challenge to prove his claim that Penang state government is also practicing a policy of giving priority to its own supports.
Pakatan Rakyat respects the right and freedom of the voters to support party and candidates of their choice and we do not practice politics of discrimination or vengeance.
On October 1, it was reported in Utusan Malaysia and Chinapress that Datuk Mukhriz, when responding to my criticism of him practicing politics of vengeance, had maintained his position that priority would be given to BN supporters.
On December 1, 2008, Mukhriz had hurt the feelings of the non Malay community when he called on the Government to abolish the vernacular schools.
Tiil today, he has not retracted his remarks or apologized to the non Malay community.
The Sungai Limau constituency has 27,222 voters and two absentee voters who are abroad. Chinese voters make up 6.74 % or 1834 of the total number of voters and they can play a decisive role in determining the candidate majority and poll outcome.
Loh Seng Kok has in his statement also said that discriminatory policies to punish those who voted for opposition runs contrary to BN spirit.
If the Kedah state government is so blatant in its action, why should MCA and Gerakan campaign in the Sungai Limau by election?
It is obvious that Mukhriz thinks that Chinese votes are no longer important to him and the BN coalition.
As such, I challenge MCA and Gerakan which have set up by their by election committees to assist BN in the upcoming Sungai Limau by election to register their strongest protest by boycotting the BN campaign.
It will be futile to ask MCA and Gerakan to leave the BN coalition, but they should at least have the political courage to do the minimum – to boycott BN’s campaign in the Sungai Limau by election.