MCA: Lim’s party is not Datuk-free

GEORGE TOWN: Penang MCA has slammed DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for trying to divert public attention by calling MCA names.

Penang MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said the infighting in DAP had heightened with more resignations from the party in Malacca, prompting Lim to divert public attention through name-calling.

“At a banquet in Butterworth, he again denounced MCA and deceived the public into believing that DAP has no members with Datukship.

“DAP central executive committee member Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham has a Datukship and so does Datuk Teng Chang Khim. Are they not DAP members?” he asked in a press statement yesterday.

Ngeh was conferred a Datukship in 2008 while Teng accepted his in 2010.

Tan said Lim had described the MCA lineup as a ‘party of Datuks’.

“If he feels that individuals with Datukship are superior and cannot serve the people, he should stop recommending the award of such titles to individuals who have made great contributions to the society.

“Instead, he should order those whom he recommended for the award over the past nine years to return their titles,” he added.

Tan said Penang MCA was surprised that Lim being a ‘busy Chief Minister of Penang’ had the time to make fun of MCA on its members with Datukship.

He also took a dig at Lim whose policy was either focused on the sale of state land or environmental destruction in the state, citing the manifestation of ‘Bukit Botak’ and floods in the state.

“As the Chief Minister, he has ignored all other important issues in the state — the difficult accessibility to affordable housing, environmental damage due to land reclamation or hill clearing and the withdrawal of foreign investments. All these seems irrelevant to him.

“He can only make a fuss over trivial matters; but when it comes to the more important issues, he will keep silent, divert attention and bury his head in the sand,” said Tan.