MCA has drawn further rebuke from partners Umno over its criticisms of Malay party’s mouthpiece, Utusan Malaysia.
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.
Prior to that, Utusan Malaysia 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.
Today, Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi chided Loh for attacking the newspaper’s campaign and told the MCA man to instead redouble efforts into regaining voter support shed by the party since Election 2008.
“Loh Seng Kok should focus on strengthening the party rather than criticising Utusan Malaysia newspaper via Malaysiakini and (The) Malaysian Insider,” state news agency Bernama quoted Puad as saying today.
Puad later went to extol what he described as Utusan Malaysia’s service to the country since the fight for independence from British rule.
Earlier today, the Perak chapter of Malay-rights group Perkasa also slammed the MCA 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.
