(The Malaysian Insider) - DAP harbours ambitions of usurping rival MCA from the ranks of Barisan Nasional (BN) by building on its gains in Penang, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said today in a new round of offensive ahead of a looming general election.
“The DAP ultimately wants to be in the government like in Penang and now they hope to be the government at federal level,” the MCA president was quoted in a report by The Star today.
“DAP politicians are like any other politicians, for them it is the thirst for power.”
Dr Chua also claimed that the opposition party would eventually run out of assets to develop the northern state if it does not gain access to the resources that came with being part of the federal government.
“Penang has limited resources and how long can (Penang Chief Minister) Lim Guan Eng tender his land?” Dr Chua was quoted further by the MCA-owned newspaper.
The former minister also advised the Chinese against thinking the community would have the power to determine the winners of the next general election.
“I would like to remind the Chinese community, if you support the DAP thinking that the Chinese are the ‘King maker’ then you are wrong,” he said.
Chinese-based MCA and multiracial DAP have continued to exchange blows in the contest for urban Chinese votes, which is the mainstay of support for both parties.
The skirmishes have hitherto surrounded issues such as Chinese vernacular education and hudud, or Islamic penal law, which MCA accuses DAP of supporting vicariously through its partnership with PAS in the larger Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact. PKR is the third party in the informal alliance.
But recent remarks by a Johor Umno lawmaker seeking for hudud to be applied even on non-Muslims have put the BN component on the back foot.
Today, Dr Chua sought to defend Umno against DAP’s attacks on the subject.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has already said it very clearly that Umno will not implement hudud,” Dr Chua said.
“None of the Barisan states even think of amending its state constitutions to implement hudud,” he said.
