It was reported in today’s media that MCA President Dato Seri Liow Tiong Lai had said that the MCA Central Committee was upset with Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tajudin Abdul Rahman‘s slap Chinese remarks. He said that MCA will lodge an official complaint against Tajuddin with the Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib.
If a deputy minister in a democratic nation like England, Australia or Japan has made similar offensive remarks, he will have been immediately pressured by public opinion to withdraw his remarks and apologise, even forced to resign his government post or face expulsion by his Prime Minister.
But till today, Tajuddin has not shown any remorse over his remarks. It is time that the only person who can and should discipline him must speak up and take action, and the person is the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib.
It is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to appoint or dismiss any minister or deputy minister. Najib does not need the instruction or decision of the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council to act against any Minister or deputy Minister.
Recently, he acted so quickly and decisively against former deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin.
So why has MCA chosen to lodge a complaint with the Barisan Nasional chairman? Why cannot MCA ministers demand stern action against Tajuddin in the Cabinet?
Is it because Liow and his ministers dare not bring up the issue and make demand in the Cabinet meeting?
Is the complaint with the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council a delay tactic to allow the issue to die down over time?
Tajuddin’s remarks have hurt the sensitivity and feelings of the Chinese community. An apology or retraction will not be sufficient.
MCA and Gerakan Ministers should be bold enough to demand in the Cabinet that the Prime Minister take stern action against him.
I reiterate my stand that Datuk Seri Najib must suspend or expel him as the deputy minister so to send a clear message to all Malaysians that he and the Cabinet will not tolerate Tajuddin’s racial, obnoxious and offensive remarks which are also clearly against his 1 Malaysia concept.