The Perak chapter of Malay-rights group Perkasa today slammed MCA leaders for urging a boycott of Utusan Malaysia, claiming the party’s call was a ploy to regain dwindling Chinese support.
The head of the chapter, Ahmad Zaini, accused the Chinese party of sacrificing the co-operation among Barisan Nasional parties as it sought to remain relevant to a community that has now abandoned them in favour of the opposition.
“There's no need to pay attention to their call as they themselves are no longer acceptable in the eyes of the Chinese community,” Ahmad was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama.
On Friday, MCA deputy publicity chief Loh Seng Kok warned that the “1Melayu, 1 Bumi” movement mooted by the Malay-language daily would create apartheid in Malay-majority Malaysia.
Utusan had called on its owners Umno to spearhead a ‘1Melayu, 1Bumi’ movement involving all Malay parties, claiming that the DAP was intent on toppling the country’s Malay leadership.
Loh also reminded Utusan that BN comprises 13 political parties representing various communities.
Today, the Perak Perkasa chief asked BN to shut out such calls from Loh and his party, and to instead give voice to leaders who remained loyal to the coalition.
He also urged BN lynchpin, Umno, to bring the Chinese-based parties in the coalition back in line after their recent criticisms of what he described as “Malay rights”.
Government leaders sought to distance themselves from the newspaper’s clarion call last week, claiming the exhortation made in the Umno-owned daily was the personal opinion of the newspaper’s editors.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak then said the Malay-language newspaper will not deter the government’s commitment to his 1 Malaysia brainchild.
Perkasa patron Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also spoke out against the idea, and said it would be “disastrous” if it came to fruition.
The elder statesman said such a movement would eventually result in a two-party system, which would be dominated by the Malays and the Chinese on opposing sides of the divide.
Despite their patron’s statement, Perkasa has said it would be willing to lead such a “1Melayu, 1 Bumi” movement.
