MCA today hit out at Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz for saying component partners in Barisan Nasional (BN) had failed to choose winnable candidates which led to coalition losing seats at the polls.
“He can display his arrogance today because he is still a minister as a result of the strong foundation of BN and all its component parties. The achievements of BN is a result of the efforts of all component parties whereby Umno is at the helm today,” said Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, who heads MCA’s Religious Harmony Bureau.
Ti said Nazri, who he described as arrogant and who had “kinder words” for DAP than for MCA, said the Chinese-based party was committed to BN.
“BN is a ship of which all component parties are stakeholders and the people of all races have given their mandate to. If people like Nazri are not happy with the BN components, he can leave and join DAP of which he is seen to be more comfortable with.
“Contrary to Nazri’s assertions and his likes, let us be reminded that BN’s victory is the results of all component parties,” he said.
It is the second time Ti has hit out at the Malay party, after several Umno leaders questioned MCA for wanting to contest seats which were “borrowed” to Umno in the last national polls in 2013.
“Those were the days of yonders whereby Umno had mesmerised the Malays for decades by merely calling for Malay unity and dominance without fear of offending others,” he said.
Nazri last week had warned that MCA, MIC and Gerakan had used “parachute candidates” to contest seats unlike Umno who relied on local candidates.
“That is the difference between Umno and MCA, MIC, Gerakan. Come elections, they prefer giving seats to their office bearers because their priority is party elections; they want their leaders to be elected representatives.
“That’s why you have parachute candidates,” said Nazri, adding gthat MIC president Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam,the Segamat MP, is from Penang.
Ti hit out at Nazri for disparaging leaders of other parties, before saying it was fortunate that Nazri was not leading Umno.
“Fortunately Nazri will just be what he is, a good assistant to the Captain. A Captain will never have a ‘kacang lupakan kulit’ (ungrateful) attitude when the ship is sailing as a result of the efforts of all.
“He will remember the importance of teamwork and be mindful of the welfare of his crew,” said Ti.
Saying Nazri owed it to BN for his political future, Ti then challenged Nazri to stand the next polls without the BN logo.
“Can he be a Minister if there is no Barisan Nasional?”
