MCA 2.0 or worse? MCA leader cites past protests on key issues, questions DAP's commitment

SHAH ALAM - A former vice-president of MCA has pointed out to DAP that his party had previously voiced its opinions on numerous contentious issues, countering implications that it remained silent on such matters during its tenure in government.

Ti Lian Ker argued that DAP faces a "worse" potential danger: failing to speak out on sensitive issues affecting the Chinese community.

"There’s no danger of DAP becoming ‘MCA 2.0’ as MCA has discharged its duties in safeguarding the interests, welfare and liberties of the Chinese community despite receiving mostly Malay support under Barisan Nasional," he said in a statement today.

Ti also specifically referenced MCA's vocal disapproval of stricter penalties for the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, or RUU355 in 2016, which was submitted as a private members’ bill by Pas president and Marang MP Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.

"Liow (then-president Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai) openly protested and promised to quit the Cabinet when RUU355 was tabled with general Umno support in 2016, despite MCA having only seven MPs," Ti said in a statement today.

He further cited former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik's six-week unpaid leave in protest against the purported extension of the New Economic Policy (NEP) and an increase in Bumiputera equity in 1987.

This statement comes in response to DAP's Ong Kian Ming's dismissing concerns about his party becoming "MCA 2.0," a term used to compare both parties' past vocal stances on certain issues.

With RUU355 expected to be re-presented in Parliament this year, Ti expressed curiosity about whether DAP, with its larger parliamentary presence, will take a similar stance to MCA's in 2016.

"It will be interesting to see whether DAP with 40 MPs can take a similar stance as MCA in 2016," he said.