MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan has put his foot down, stating that its party members are not allowed to participate in the Bersih 4 rally.
This was after MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon and MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun contradicted each other on whether members can join the weekend protest.
“MCA stands firm that members should not attend the Bersih gathering, to prevent the political scenario in the country from turning more unstable and complicated.
“Ever since its inception, MCA has always been prioritising national peace and stability and is duty-bound to protect the safety of all Malaysian citizens. As such, MCA members should stay away from the Bersih gatherings," he said in a statement today.
Earlier today, Chong ( photo ) said no disciplinary action would be taken against his party members even if they were to join the rally, which also demands for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's resignation.
"But what I'd say is please abide by the law, have self-discipline, and take care of yourselves," he was quoted as saying by The Star Online today.
However the article had since been removed by the news portal.
Meanwhile, Chew was quoted by Bernama as saying that MCA has a mechanism in place to act against any member who joins the rally or is in any way involved.
In contrast, Chong, who is also deputy education minister, said undergraduates were likewise free to join the protest, as such restrictions under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 have been removed.
"They are free to express themselves," he was quoted as saying.
Chong's statement is also different from Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh's, who warned students against participating in the protest.
Chong's remarks also came amid several public universities warning their students not to join Bersih 4.
The rally comes amid several scandals plaguing Najib including his handling of state-owned 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion in deposits in his personal bank accounts.
Najib had denied taking public funds for personal gain while his supporters claim the massive deposits was a political donation from the Middle East.
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