Remarks by DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong that “MCA acts as China’s agent” are unwarranted and must be condemned. They are malicious attacks and seek to discredit MCA’s efforts in advancing Malaysia-China relations and assisting Malaysian businesses venture into overseas markets.
At the same time, the MCA PRC affairs committee is deeply disappointed that YB Liew has spewed ignorant and misleading remarks. He should do his homework first to save himself from embarrassment.
The MCA PRC affairs committee has stated on many occasions and in the media that the purpose of the Belt and Road Centre (MBRACE) is to promote the bilateral political, economic, cultural and educational exchanges between Malaysia and China.
Its primary mission is to create a platform to help Malaysian enterprises to do business in China, while Chinese enterprises may likewise invest in Malaysia. MBRACE promotes cooperation and provides channels to achieve mutual benefits for Malaysian enterprises.
As a member of the ruling BN coalition, MCA as a political party fulfils its social responsibility, through bridging the people to the government while helping the nation to promote economic development policies, and enabling the rakyat to benefit from government policies and economic development.
YB Liew should be reminded that in a democratic system, the main function of a political party is not only to formulate government policies or to participate in elections, but also to bear the wishes, expectations and views of the people and to represent the people in the process of political participation and engagement.
In this regard, in both internal and external issues, political parties have their own responsibilities and mission. MCA as part of the ruling coalition, undertakes the role of facilitator.
As a responsible political party, MCA works together to build a platform for enterprises in both Malaysia and China, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to help them seize the opportunity to invest overseas. This is the expectation of local businesses. What is wrong for MCA to address the problems and needs of the people?
In a democratic system, each party has its own freedom and the right to develop platforms, agenda and direction. The cooperation between MCA and the Communist Party of China (CPC) is a matter of inter-party establishment of diplomatic ties. YB Liew has spoken out of context. MCA, a political party is part of the federal government which pursues bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.
For him to label “MCA as an agent of China” shows he cannot even distinguish the difference between political parties and the government.
I am not surprised that YB Liew has resorted to making cheap political propaganda, because this is typical DAP’s (il)logic. For example, DAP Sekinchan state assemblyperson Ng Suee Lin during debates in the Selangor state Legislative Assembly had erroneously labelled Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s successful state visit to China and handshake with China President HE Xi Jinping as “Umno selling out the country or supporting communism.”
YB Liew’s remarks are identical to YB Ng’s sputter which once again, shows DAP’s ignorance and turning to the politics of hatred to distort matters.
Going by YB Liew’s logic that MCA as a ruling party, by establishing co-operative relations with China is equivalent as “an agent for China”, then I would like to ask senior exco member Teng Chang Khim who has declared that Selangor will make Selangor World Trade Center as satellite center for China in the Asean region - DAP as a ruling partner in the Selangor Pakatan government, is DAP an agent for China in Selangor and Malaysia?
MCA’s internal and international matters are clear
More importantly, MBRACE is one of MCA's many organisational organs. Internally, MCA has always undertaken an upright role in political, economic, cultural and educational issues, and has never been absent in defending the rights of the people.
Although MCA has only seven MPs currently, our party maintains a firm footing in defending the Constitutional rights of all Malaysians. On the other hand, DAP has 37 MPs, but is evasive on major issues. Hence, what qualifications has YB Liew to criticise MCA?
Besides China, MCA not only builds bilateral ties with the CPC, but also maintains friendly and co-operative relations with political parties from other countries. This is an era of people-to-people integration, while economic and trade cooperation between countries grow increasingly closer.
As Malaysia practises an open economy, we should embrace regional economic cooperation, including assisting local enterprises all the way to gain access to overseas business opportunities, so that our countries and peoples can share the results.
Unfortunately, DAP opts to toe the line of its one time arch nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad for its political interests, by creating a non-existent ‘China threat’. DAP is willing to shut the doors of Malaysia, and sacrifice the interests of the people, especially our Chinese community.
CHUAH POH KHIANG is MCA PRC affairs committee chairperson and MCA deputy treasurer-general.
