KAMPAR, May 18 (Bernama) -- MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has
admitted that the existence of Chinese extremists could dent the community''s
support for the Barisan Nasional (BN) government by using certain issues in the
run-up to the coming general election.
However, he said, each community had its own group of extremists because in
a plural society, there were those who believed that playing up racial issues
would be an easy way to garner support from their community, and this was not
unusual.
"Whether we like it or not, these extremist groups have their own
supporters," he said when met before having a dialogue with representatives of
non-governmental organisations, here, today.
He was earlier asked to comment on former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad''s statement that the views and influence of Chinese extremists could be
an obstacle to the community''s support for the BN government in the coming 13th
general election.
Dr Mahathir, however, said that the majority of the Chinese in this country
were moderate in their thinking and were not extremists.
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CHUA-SUPPORT 2 KAMPAR
Dr Chua said the approach in BN had been different all this while where each
community was regarded as important and BN component parties had always
practised a policy of moderation and mutual respect, hence BN could not use
racial issues to amass support.
"That is our weakness in terms of support, while the DAP could use racial
issues as a weapon, PAS would use religion and PKR, as usual, would say what the
Chinese like to hear and will act the same with Malay and Indian audiences.
"Today, everybody knows that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) exists because of (Datuk
Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim). Without Anwar, PR will no longer exist."
He said DAP had given a false impression through its series of ceramah
(talks) by lying that their successful administration of Penang had so impressed
the Chinese community that the module could be transferred to Putrajaya and
other states.
"I''m saying that this is a big lie. DAP is ''maharaja'' (king) only in Penang
but exco members only in other states. At the federal level, its leader cannot
become prime minister or deputy prime minister, but can only be cabinet
ministers."
Dr Chua hoped the Chinese would not be influenced by DAP''s propaganda and
lies.
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CHUA-SUPPORT 3 (LAST) KAMPAR
"They (DAP) are saying if the Chinese support the party, all the problems
faced by the community will be solved. They think their leaders are political
superman who can solve all the community''s problems.
"But everyone knows that all political parties in this country need to give
and take, and to consider that the population is multiracial and multireligious.
"There is no leader who is a ''superman'' for any community, including Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. That is why he introduced the 1Malaysia
concept and projects himself as a leader for all races," he said.
Meanwhile, MCA secretary-general and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho
Ha said most Chinese were highly educated and had their own views and thinking
to be easily influenced by extremists, who were only a small minority in the
community.
-- BERNAMA
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