Judging from MCA’s Ti Lian Ker’s statement, one would wonder whether he actually searched for the word ‘cina’ on the Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto for the sake of finding ways to criticise DAP just to remain relevant.
The Pakatan Harapan manifesto has been researched thoroughly in order to address issues concerning various communities based on localities. For example, the upgrading of New Villages and Fishing Villages with better infrastructure with a budget of RM 60 million per year compared to RM 20 million per year. This is way higher allocation pledged by Pakatan Harapan despite MCA and Gerakan being in the government.
We have also pledged to ensure UEC gets recognised for entrance into local universities. This is something that MCA couldn’t even push despite being in the government for several decades.
As our political opponents, it is natural to criticise our manifesto but criticism should be constructive and not shallow. This simply shows that MCA is immature, disconnected and don’t understand voter demographics and sentiment. They probably understand their business associates from China better than the local Malaysian Chinese community they supposedly represent.
There are many socioeconomic and structural reforms pledged by HARAPAN in the manifesto and it is for the benefit of ALL Malaysians. The manifesto created was based on hopes and desires from the ground.
It is rather embarrassing that despite being in the cabinet, MCA isn’t making any difference to the community they claim to represent. If MCA assumes the level commitment to the Chinese community is based on the number of times the word ‘cina’ appears on a manifesto then maybe it is time for MCA to be prepared to assume the role of national opposition together with the entire Barisan Nasional as they lack commonsense despite being in the position of power.
Perhaps MCA should have listened to their former President Chua Soi Lek on not taking up cabinet posts in order to become effective and relevant.