JOHOR BARU: MCA hopes to resolve the conflict between its leaders and Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh soon.
MCA Youth chief Ling Tian Soon expressed the party's willingness to meet with Dr Muhamad Akmal to discuss and resolve the dispute, aiming to strengthen party cooperation.
However, Ling stated that if Dr Muhamad Akmal chooses to proceed with legal action, the party is prepared to face it calmly.
"We acknowledge and understand the impact of the Mandarin term 'dian ma,' which has caused misunderstandings and provoked Dr Akmal's anger," he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 3).
He noted that words with similar sounds can have different meanings, and misinterpretations can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings.
"Should we allow ourselves to be trapped in the web of lies spun by those with malicious intent?" Ling questioned.
Ling mentioned that MCA has been belittled for winning the Ayer Hitam and Tanjung Piai parliamentary seats, both with a Malay-majority electorate, but emphasized the hard work of their elected representatives.
"After securing these victories, our two representatives have worked hard to garner support from all ethnic groups while striving to improve infrastructure and public services," he added.
Ling responded to Dr Muhamad Akmal’s statement that MCA should reflect on having two parliamentary representatives from constituencies where the Malay community constitutes more than half the voters.
On Monday, Dr Muhamad Akmal criticized MCA vice president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng for rebuking him over his intention to sue Johor MCA deputy publicity chief Law Yiak Kwang.
Tan had earlier suggested that Dr Muhamad Akmal should reflect on why non-Malay groups have a negative impression of him.
The dispute began when Dr Muhamad Akmal posted on Facebook about Law’s use of the term 'dian ma,' which allegedly translates to 'crazy Malay.'
Law clarified that 'dian ma' is a common phrase on social media, meaning someone who acts 'irrationally.'
