Cover image via Pakistan Today
Preaching unity among Malaysians and high-spirited speeches on working together to win the general elections, are a common occurrence at Barisan Nasional component parties' general meetings
MCA's 62nd Annual General Meeting was held yesterday, 11 October at Wisma MCA
Image via New Straits Times
While speaking about the spirit of togetherness, Prime Minister Najib Razak, when officiating the Malaysian Chinese Association's (MCA) 62nd general assembly, yesterday, revealed that the Chinese community must support BN in order to secure better positions with the ministry
Najib said this at MCA's 62nd annual general meeting that was held MCA's headquarters, Wisma MCA, yesterday.
According to the Malaysian premier, voting for BN's coalition partner, MCA, in the general elections, would strengthen the race-based party thus increasing the Chinese community's representation in the government.
Adding to that, Najib insisted that he won't be able to do much for the Chinese community if they do not offer their support for BN, as he fears critics will slam him, if he offers help to people that have not shown any support for him
PM Najib Razak with MCA president Liow Tiong Lai's speeches during MCA's AGM was peppered with hopes of staying united to recapture the people's trust
Image via The Star
These statements on standing as one and supporting BN by Najib, came after MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon, lambasted BN leaders who condoned the "red shirts" rally and labelled Barisan Nasional as a "degenerating racial conflict factory" during a MCA Youth annual meet last Friday, 10 October
While MCA's youth chief took a direct hit at the BN leaders for their indifference over recent events, its president Liow Tiong Lai opted for a more diplomatic approach and asked the PM to set up a National Reconciliation Council for Political Governance, Religious Affairs and Unity to solve the growing racial tensions in the country
Breaking his silence on the the recent happenings, MCA vice-president Wee Ka Siong warned that the component party will end its 60-year-old relationship with BN if the bout of extremism in the coalition remains unresolved
Championing BN, Najib insisted that his party is still a better choice compared to the "hazy" opposition coalition
Image via Pakistan Today
Talking about MCA's political opponent, DAP, MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong thinks that the Chinese community's support for the opposition parties will eventually erode their political power in the country
Meanwhile, former MCA president Ong Tee Keat, in a switch of allegiance, has urged MCA members to call for a referendum on whether MCA should remain with BN or break away from it
Taking a step back from all things political, Wee Ka Siong touched on the inaccuracies of facts found in year 4 History textbooks for primary schools and the importance of introducing diversity in school books
Debunking recent talks about abolishing vernacular schools, Najib insisted that the government supports the policy of multi-culturalism, multi-linguism, multi-ethnicism and multi-religionism in Malaysia
However, the past month has seen the Malaysian Chinese community receiving a great deal of negative comments from local politicians, mostly asking them to stop being "rude" and one even going to the extent of using the phrase "cina babi"
Malaysia's underlying racial issues have suddenly grabbed the attention of local politicians, especially after the events of the Bersih 4.0 rally that called for PM Najib Razak resignation over the unresolved 1MDB and RM2.6 billion scandals:
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