MCA: Chinese support for Dr M puzzling

PETALING JAYA: The Chinese community's support for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is puzzling, even though the former premier was the Opposition's biggest rival previously, an MCA leader said. 

"It is puzzling as to why the Chinese community would gleefully cheer Mahathir on in joining his once biggest rival Opposition coalition," said MCA Religious Harmony Bureau secretary Chris Daniel Wong (pic) in a statement Tuesday (Jan 23). 

He said former premier Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's win for Barisan Nasional in the 2004 general election was a clear indication that "Mahathirism" was despised by all, especially the Chinese. 

He added it was ironic that DAP, which had previously coaxed the rakyat to sacrifice resources and energy to topple the former prime minister, was now "whitewashing Dr Mahathir's 'Mahathirism'". 

Wong also said that Dr Mahathir was not truly championing the cause of "saving the country" but was attempting to "recapture power and resume his previous authoritarian role". 

He said the future of the country cannot be given away for self-gain, as such, only a leader with the sincerity to lead should be voted to govern the country. 

"In the last election, people voted DAP and Pakatan because they thought the Opposition pact could 'ubah' (change) for the better," Wong said. 

He questioned the possibility of this happening now that Pakatan has decided that Dr Mahathir will be the prime minister if it wins in the coming general election. 

"Will Dr Mahathir rule differently when he is with Pakatan?" Wong asked. 

He added that the Pakatan chairman was only leading a group of disgruntled former Umno leaders who wanted nothing more than to oust their former party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. 

He then urged the Chinese community to decide the future that they want, whether it was a stable and moderate Barisan-led government or a conflicted Opposition.