Tiong chides Nazri over remarks against Kuok, MCA

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Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

BINTULU: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing expressed regret over the recent remarks by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz against business tycoon Robert Kuok and the MCA.

He said Nazri’s statement was uncalled for and had gone beyond the spirit of Barisan Nasional.

In his press statement yesterday, Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP, specifically pointed out that Nazri, an Umno supreme council member, had disregarded the model of cooperation in the Barisan Nasional when he lashed out at MCA.

He said Nazri was himself in the Barisan Nasional fold that comprised leaders of various races.

“Nazri should have respected the Chinese representatives in the Barisan Nasional. He must remember that component parties like MCA had stood up for Umno in difficult times before. He cannot be ungrateful.”

He said Nazri had stated that because the DAP had won most of the Chinese-majority seats, only the opposition party and Lim Guan Eng could represent the Chinese.

“But, has Nazri instead reflected on why the Chinese voters had swayed?” Tiong asked.

“Nazri has failed to help the MCA as a partner, he has trodden on them instead.

“His attitude has shown he does not appreciate the Chinese in Sarawak making a come-back to the Barisan Nasional fold, as is evident in the 2016 state election.”

Tiong recalled there were 16 Chinese-majority seats in Sarawak then. The Barisan Nasional had grabbed half of them while the other half went not only to the DAP, but also the PKR.

He said when Nazri said Chinese voters had crossed over to the DAP, he had offended those who had supported the Barisan Nasional.

He feared such a sweeping statement would kill the morale of the Chinese voters.

“Based on Nazri’s logic, is he telling the Malay voters in Selangor and Kelantan that Umno cannot represent them?

“Nazri is pulling apart the BN component parties now. He is asking them to cut each other’s throat.”

Tiong said after Nazri spoke, he (Tiong) had been flooded with calls to question on Nazri’s credibility.

He said the people were puzzled, they felt Nazri was siding with the opposition and was commending Lim Guan Eng while pulling down the MCA.

Tiong added: “Robert Kuok is the advisor of many NGOs of the Chinese community, and because he is not a DAP member, does this mean these NGOs cannot be heard?”

“I am saddened. Nazri is suggesting Lim Guan Eng is the sole representative of the Chinese community,” Tiong concluded.