VOTERS in Balakong cannot afford to vote for MCA today as the party is in bed with both Umno and PAS now, DAP top guns said in the Pakatan Harapan finale ceramah last night.

“MCA, Umno and PAS have formed an unholy alliance not to fight for the people but for their self-interests,” DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang told the crowd of 800 at the new village in Batu 11, Cheras.

The nature of the Balakong by-election has shifted to one of national significance as the three-party alliance could destabilise the PH government, Lim said.

“MCA will celebrate its 70th anniversary in February. When have PAS leaders gone on MCA’s stage over the past 70 years?”

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan stumped for MCA for the first time at a ceramah on Tuesday, a development that stunned a former Negri Sembilan MCA chief.

MCA has been at loggerheads with PAS over hudud and the Islamist party’s drive to make Malaysia a theocratic state for decades.

Lim challenged MCA candidate Tan Chee Teong to withdraw from the by-election if he had principles.

DAP national chairman Tan Kok Wai reminded voters that MCA president Liow Tiong Lai once promised that the party will leave Barisan Nasional if Umno joins forces with PAS.

“To win Malay votes, MCA has betrayed its own political principles. They should be sent packing,” said Tan, urging voters to defend moderation and good governance by rejecting MCA.

Hew Kuan Yau, best known as Superman Hew, said MCA, Umno and PAS have become reactionary parties that thrived on fanning religious and ethnic sentiments.

“Remember Umno turned the recognition of UEC (Unified Certified Examination by Chinese independent schools) into a racial issue… that it threatens the Malays. Instead of telling Umno to shut up, (MCA deputy president) Wee Ka Siong only dares to bully (deputy education minister) Teo Nie Cheng,” said Hew.

“If MCA wins in Balakong, PAS and Umno will go to town telling rural Malays that the Chinese have regretted voting for Pakatan. If MCA loses, they will have to review their strategy, teach the three parties a lesson, to be proper constructive politicians.” – September 8, 2018.