DAP Visit to UMNO Was National Duty, Not Political Theatre
I strongly condemn MCA Deputy President Mah Hang Soon for his recent social media remarks questioning the DAP MPs’ visit to UMNO headquarters for a discussion on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. His comments are not only vulgar and demeaning, but clearly intended to sow discord within the Unity Government and Pakatan Harapan, creating confusion and undermining public trust.
The purpose of the visit by 30 DAP MPs was crystal clear, to strengthen policy coordination on TVET, improve resource allocation, and promote inter-ministerial cooperation. This was part of normal administrative coordination within the Unity Government. It had nothing to do with political symbolism, and certainly does not require unsolicited criticism from MCA through a narrow partisan lens.
Mah Hang Soon’s use of phrases such as “infatuated schoolgirls meeting their prince” and “so aroused it shows” to describe a formal government meeting is not only unbecoming of a deputy president of a political party, but also betrays deep-seated disrespect towards women and the workings of a mature and cooperative government.
He also questioned why the meeting was not held in Parliament or the Prime Minister’s Office. Let me be clear, the UMNO headquarters is one of the Deputy Prime Minister’s official workspaces, and a perfectly legitimate venue for such discussions. If Mah Hang Soon truly believes that entering the UMNO building amounts to pledging loyalty, then why did he never question MCA leaders, including the party president and youth chief, when they regularly entered the same premises during their time in government?
MCA Should Visit PAS Headquarters Instead
As for Mah Hang Soon’s sarcastic suggestion that Anwar Ibrahim and PKR MPs should be “welcomed” to visit TAR UMT’s TVET facilities, I suggest this instead, since MCA now chooses to position itself as an “opposition party” within the Unity Government and continuously attacks Anwar’s leadership, they should invite PAS leaders to TAR UMT for a dialogue on TVET policy. Better yet, MCA’s only two MPs should make a courtesy call to PAS headquarters. That would be far more fitting, given their current political posture.
MCA Is Like an Old Nokia Phone
MCA is increasingly irrelevant in Malaysian politics with no real influence, no seat advantage, and no policy leadership. Yet they continue to rely on petty provocation to stay in the spotlight. Frankly, MCA today reminds me of an old Nokia phone with a weak signal, not kept for its value, but simply because there’s no better option for those who still hold onto it.
DAP’s willingness to work with UMNO, PKR, Amanah and other Unity Government component parties is based on pragmatism and a commitment to nation-building. Politics, to me, is about responsibility and progress. It’s about having the courage to put the country first, even when it means moving beyond old rivalries.
I call on Mah Hang Soon to stop using literary metaphors to mask political sarcasm, and to cease undermining the reforms being driven by the Unity Government. Malaysia’s future depends not on romanticised narratives or cheap theatrics, but on rational cooperation and clear direction.