Nazri Deserter

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 — The MCA today said it is “saddened” by Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s comments, which were published today in the Chinese daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, comparing the second largest party in the ruling coalition to a “grieved woman” who was “sexually abused” but refusing to divorce her husband, in this case, the Barisan Nasional (BN).

MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told reporters today that Nazri’s comments on MCA and the MCA president were “uncalled for”.

“Especially at this juncture when you’re talking about promoting racial harmony, 1 Malaysia, by calling MCA a grieved woman, sexually abused and always complaining to others, and wanting to be a hero to the Chinese community and more or less that, telling us to leave the Barisan Nasional … we deeply regret that he mentioned all these.

“We will bring the matter to the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council,” he said.

Wanita MCA Chief Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said that as a woman, she finds it unacceptable that the Minister in the PM’s Department had used the words, “grieved woman” and “sexually abused” to describe MCA.

“I think all Barisan Nasional leaders must always heed the words of our prime minster at the first BN convention when the prime minister said that leaders in BN suffer from amnesia, denial, arrogance and delusion — delusion of one’s popularity and one’s ability to win and not needing support in all areas.

“The decision for MCA to stay or leave BN is MCA’s and MCA’s alone. However, if Minister Nazri feels that MCA is a liability, bring it to Umno’s supreme council, BN supreme council,” she said.

MCA International Affairs Bureau chairman Datuk Chor Chee Heung said that he had spoken to the deputy prime minister about the issue but he had merely responded by saying it was Nazri’s personal opinion and does not reflect the stance of BN or Umno.

“It has left a bad taste in the mouth,” he said.

Chor added that it is not up to Nazri to ask that MCA leave the ruling coalition, calling him “too arrogant” for saying such comments.

When asked if the party wants an apology from Nazri, Ng said that was not what they are after and stressed that MCA will bring this matter before the BN’s next supreme council meeting.

“We will not do anything at the call of one person and Nazri doesn’t represent Umno, he doesn’t represent the highest leadership or BN and we at MCA stand firm in our political objective and that is with other BN parties to bring about 1 Malaysia, which the prime minster has always said is about inclusiveness.

“We, MCA, do not feel pressured or stressed out by this,” she said, although the MCA leader’s expression hinted otherwise, during the press conference called at the eleventh hour, after the Parliamentary session had ended for the day.

Nazri later clarified that what was said was his own opinion and stressed that this is a free country.

“The question asked was that some MCA members claim they lost in the last GE because Umno was arrogant,” he said.

He said he did not believe that the Chinese didn’t vote for MCA because Umno was arrogant as he had won the Chinese vote in his own constituency.

“If the allegations are true, MCA should have left us. But the fact they are still with us, it’s not true.

“I never asked MCA to leave. If it’s true they should have left. The fact they didn’t leave then not true la,” he said.

MCA vice president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said that such comments will not weaken the party spirit.

“Now that Malaysia is in the process of reforming itself, we need to allocate more of our time to our own duties and not brag about how good we are.

“MCA will not be discouraged by statements such as the one made by Nazri, but rather, we will continue to voice our dissatisfactions whenever there is unfairness or untruth. We will not keep quiet. MCA represents the people’s voice and we will not take a single step back when facing barriers,” he said.