NON-MALAY Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders are all out to convince Malay voters in Tg Piai that they are better political partners than their peers in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) ruling coalition.

Senior leaders of MCA and MIC, BN’s two component parties, made little mention of the PH candidate, Karmaine Sardini of Bersatu, at a ceramah last night, instead attacked DAP in their speeches.

BN’s Wee Jeck Seng of MCA and Karmaine are the frontrunners in the Tg Piai parliamentary by-election in Johor, a six-cornered race with polling on November 16.

MCA, MIC and Umno are concerned over a possible silent revolt from Umno grassroots towards Wee as members wanted their own candidate.

Last night’s ceramah in Rimba Terjun, Wee told a 3,000-strong crowd of mostly Malays that MCA has more respect for the community than its rivals in PH.

“MCA has never insulted the Malays, never insulted Islam and the Malay rulers. It has never said things like ‘Let the Malays screw the Malays’ or say the country will turn into a Taliban state.

“MCA is a different party from others. There are Chinese who are racist but MCA’s soul is loyal to Malaysia.”

Although Wee did not mention names, he is believed to be referring to leaders in DAP, Bersatu’s ally in PH.

The saying “let the Malays screw the Malays” can be traced back to former DAP member Hew Kuan Yew, who used it in a ceramah during the Sarawak state elections.

The phrase that an Umno-PAS alliance will lead to the rise of the Taliban was once used by Perak DAP chief and Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Nga Kor Ming.

Last night, MIC deputy president M Saravanan urged the Malays to defeat DAP as it is a threat to Malay dominance in the country’s government.

Saravanan said since Merdeka, Malays have dominated the country’s government and administration while the Chinese community controlled the economy and commerce.

“But since the 14h general election, the government has been taken over by DAP and (and its veteran) Lim Kit Siang.

“Malays have to realise this and they have to rise to save the country from Lim Kit Siang and the DAP.” – November 7, 2019.