MCA has issued several statements in response to my question on PAS’s proposal to use federal power to end gambling nationwide. However, MCA leaders have still refused to answer the most basic question. Does MCA support or oppose PAS’s proposal to ban gambling nationwide?
MCA deputy president Mah Hang Soon, secretary-general Chong Sin Woon, MCA Youth deputy chief Mike Chong and other MCA leaders have all responded to me at length. However, none of them has clearly said whether MCA supports or opposes PAS’s proposal.
This shows that MCA is so afraid to state its position because it does not want to offend PAS and risk losing the support of PAS voters.
MCA does not need to be part of the Cabinet to state whether it supports or opposes a policy. PAS is also not part of the Federal Government today. However, PAS has clearly stated that it wants Muslim voters to support PAS and its allies so that they can capture Putrajaya and use federal power to end gambling nationwide. PAS has made its position clear. MCA has not.
Mah Hang Soon said that MCA is not in the Cabinet and therefore cannot decide federal government policy. This does not answer my question. I have never asked MCA to decide the policy of the current Federal Government. I have asked MCA to state its own political position.
Mah Hang Soon himself admitted that a political party can publicly state whether it supports or opposes a policy. Therefore, there is no reason for MCA to continue avoiding the question.
If MCA opposes nationwide prohibition, MCA should simply say that it opposes it. If MCA supports PAS’s proposal, MCA should also say so clearly. MCA has refused to do either.
The reason for this refusal is becoming increasingly obvious. If BN and PN cooperate in the next general election, MCA candidates in mixed constituencies will depend heavily on PAS and PN supporters to win.
MCA therefore does not want to openly oppose PAS because it is afraid that PAS supporters may refuse to vote for MCA candidates. This is why MCA is trying to change the subject instead of answering the question.
MCA cannot ask PAS supporters to vote for MCA during an election and then tell Malaysians that PAS’s political agenda has nothing to do with MCA.
If BN and PN cooperate in the next general election, every seat won by MCA, MIC, UMNO and PN will contribute towards the parliamentary numbers required to form a BN-PN government.
If PAS enters the next Federal Government together with MCA, the question of PAS’s policies will become a question for MCA as well.
MCA leaders have repeatedly claimed that policies in a coalition government must be decided collectively by the Cabinet. If that is their position, then Malaysians have even more reason to ask what MCA would do if PAS proposes a nationwide gambling ban in that Cabinet. Would MCA oppose it?
Would MCA make the protection of existing lawful activities for non-Muslims a condition of joining the government? Would MCA refuse to support the policy even if PAS makes it a condition of political cooperation? These are simple questions about MCA’s own position.
MCA should answer them before the next general election and not after the government has been formed.
The issue is also not limited to gambling. Malaysia is a multiracial and multireligious country. Muslims have religious rules that must be respected. At the same time, the Federal Government must protect the constitutional and legal rights of Malaysians who do not profess Islam.
MCA has always claimed that it can protect the interests and rights of different communities in government. However, MCA is already refusing to state a clear position when it is not even governing together with PAS.
This raises a serious question about what MCA would do if it actually forms the next government with PAS.
If MCA is already so afraid to disagree openly with PAS because it needs PAS votes, Malaysians have every reason to question whether MCA would have the courage to oppose PAS after becoming dependent on PAS for parliamentary support.
MCA cannot claim that it will provide checks and balances against PAS while refusing to state a position on a major policy that PAS has already announced.
My position has already been stated clearly. PAS has the right to advocate its religious beliefs, but religious prohibitions should not be imposed through federal law on Malaysians who do not profess Islam. MCA should now state its own position clearly.
Does MCA support or oppose PAS’s proposal to end gambling nationwide? If MCA opposes it, MCA should say so directly.
If MCA continues to refuse to answer, then MCA should explain whether it is afraid of losing PAS votes and damaging its future political cooperation with PAS. Malaysians deserve to know MCA’s position before they are asked to vote for a possible BN-PN government.