ALL political parties, including the MCA, must reject any form of racism and extremism to maintain the multi-racial identity of Keluarga Malaysia, the party’s secretary-general Chong Sin Woon said.

He added that his party was disappointed with a handful of politicians who preyed on issues related to religion and racism in an extreme manner.

“This is worrisome and it is time for MCA, in fact, any political party in this country, to rise and be united and say ‘no’ to racism and extremism. It is a strong signal that enough is enough. Politicians have long been using race, religion, even education and languages as a tactic and this is dangerous.

“We want to restore the people’s power to make a multiracial, multicultural nation, which respects the diversity of religions, cultures and languages so as to maintain the multi-racial identity of the Malaysian Family,” he said.

Chong said this during the opening speech of the 46th Wanita MCA Annual General Meeting at Wisma MCA, which was attended by 687 delegates physically and virtually. Also present was MCA Wanita chief Heng Seai Kie.

Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional (BN) Wanita chairman Noraini Ahmad, in her recorded speech said the tireless attitude and cooperation by the Wanita MCA machinery contributed to BN’s landslide victory in the Malacca state election in November.

“The attitude of a moderate and realistic leadership, which is always standing together to develop the multi-racial country makes MCA stay relevant to regain the trust of the people despite the various challenges faced.

“As a party that represents the Chinese community, the success achieved to some extent is the spirit of MCA which always fights with its friends in the BN component,” she said.

At the same event, Heng said following the tabling of the 2021 Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill (RUU) in Parliament last Wednesday, her party would set up an advisory service centre to provide consultation services to victims nationwide.

She said the Legal Advisory and Women’s Aid Centre (LAWA) would work with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and be assisted by 179 party divisions nationwide to make the effort a success in collaboration with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

“Road show seminars will be held in Chinese, Malay and Tamil either via video or face-to-face and the ‘Say No to Sexual Harassment’ campaign’ would be launched,” she said.

At a press conference held later, Chong said his party would introduce more new candidates, especially young people to contest in the upcoming GE15.

“In the previous GE, we set at least 30% of the list of candidates to be new faces, so I am confident that in the next GE, more than 30% will be introduced,” he said.

Asked if the alliance between Parti Warisan and Muda would threaten MCA’s position in GE15, Chong said at present it was quite difficult to predict due to too many new parties being formed, especially in Peninsular Malaysia.

Yesterday, Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal said his party was also open to accepting any other party to join it in facing GE15, as the party had officially spread its wings to the Peninsula. – Bernama, December 18, 2021.