‘Guiding principles must be upheld’


KUALA LUMPUR: MCA can work with anybody as part of the Opposition, says party deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

Reiterating that it would uphold the spirit and principles enshrined in the Federal Constitution, he said there was nothing wrong in working with others in the Opposition as long as the guiding principles are upheld.

“In politics, it is hard to say what’s going to happen tomorrow. There are things we cannot predict. We should do the right thing.

“As part of the Opposition, we will certainly work as a team in solidarity ... I think there’s nothing wrong with it. As a political party, we can work with anybody, and we should.

“But I think those guiding principles must be upheld. That is very important,” he told the press after opening the 55th MCA Youth annual general meeting here yesterday.

Dr Mah was responding to a question on whether MCA will join the Muafakat Nasional alliance between PAS and fellow Barisan Nasional component party member Umno that was agreed upon in September, following Barisan’s thumping victory in the Tanjung Piai by-election.

“In life and also politics, it is very difficult for us to say for sure and in absolute certainty what would happen. The results (in Tanjung Piai) may show that we did well but we cannot be too sure to pinpoint the winning factor in that particular by-election.

“So we have to strengthen ourselves and gain the support of the people ourselves,” he said, adding that it was not the way forward for MCA to rely on others.

To a question, Dr Mah said MCA is a democratic party that is fine with varied views among party members on Muafakat Nasional.

“We are a big party, we cannot expect everyone to share the same views. But in the spirit of democracy, we allow differences in opinion.

“What’s important is that after discussions, brainstorming and once a decision is made, the party will move on as a whole accordingly,” he added.

Earlier in his speech, Dr Mah criticised the Pakatan Harapan government for what he felt was a lack of sincerity in helping the people.

He also criticised Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s manner in slashing government allocations for the Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

Dr Mah quoted an ancient Chinese idiom in repressing the community that had voted him into power.

“Ben shi tong gen sheng, xiang jian he tai ji? (Having the same origin, why the rush to torture each other?)” he asked.

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MCA , AGM , Mah Hang Soon

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