In a media conference at his office in Putrajaya this afternoon, Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad calls for continuing to preserve the ‘power-share’ coalition as the best solution for Malaysia to move forward. “For the whole country, the best is to have a ‘kongsi’ government (coalition)”.
“MCA is the main Chinese party. If they are not in the Federal Government, who would represent the Chinese. Do we forget about them altogether or we find some candidate? If there is no Chinese representative (in the Cabinet and State Excos), the situation would not be good for the Government and country”, answering to the question based on MCA President Dato’ Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s reiterated call that MCA should not be included in the Cabinet and State Government Excos due to his party’s poor performance in the 13GE two days ago.
“This is not the first time. After the May 1969 (3GE), Tun Tan Siew Sin also made the same call. But in the interest of the nation, since then they remained being represented in Cabinet”.
“All along, we have believed in the co-operation between races. We (BN) don’t have a multiracial party. We have devised a coalition of parties representing the multiple races. Effectively, the coalition acts as a party, using the same symbol and manifesto. The coalition is the best answer. If the coalition breaks down, what is the answer. We have to think carefully about that”.
He agreed to the notion that 13GE is a demonstration of the attitude of the majority Malaysian Chinese who pandered into DAP’s Chinese Chauvinism and rejected the ‘Power-Share’ concept, which was harnessed at the basis for when this nation was formed.
“I have been everywhere to campaign especially in Johor where there is the best example of the ‘Power Share’ concept. But DAP and Lim Kit Siang fanned the Chinese Chauvinism and hatred against the Malays, where he claims the Malays got everything since Merdeka. He sow Chinese hatred against the Malays and it spread to the whole country. It is clear that the Chinese ‘rejected’ the ‘hands of friendship’ with the Malays. This is the ‘Chinese Tsunami’ “.
He also reminded that MCA was accused of being ‘Lackeys to UMNO’. “They are embarrassed. They have been projected by the DAP for letting down and not fighting for the Chinese. rights. Now if they still come in, they have to show that they are very Chinese. That would cause some problems with the Government and maybe the Malays also”.
To a question whether DAP should be included in the Government,
“Well, it depends to the Chinese. Whether they want to participate (in Government) or not. If they want to participate, who shall participate. I am quite sure the DAP would not want to participate, unless they are in a dominant position. If MCA participate, then they would be accused of being ‘Lackeys of UMNO’. Can we find Chinese who are willing to face this and participate in the Government. That is left to be seen”.
He also added the Malays are also fragmented into three different parties.
“When the Malays are fragmented, they are no longer strong. They become ‘beggars’”.
Answering to questions of co-operation between UMNO and PAS, “Both parties must make adjustments and concessions. This is one of the reaction that arisen from poor performance of PAS, where they managed to only get 21 seats compared to DAP (38 seats). Obviously, there must be give and take. UMNO cannot insist their ways nor PAS continue to insist of the theirs. One must remember, UMNO plus PAS (88 + 21) is not enough to govern the country. They need to find somebody to join them”.
Tun Dr. Mahathir also responded to the call that Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak should step down due to BN’s worse performance in 13GE compared to the 12GE, “UMNO will have to decide”.
*Updated 1800hrs
















Mukhriz: Kekalkan perpaduan dan harmoni demi kemakmuran
Dato’ Paduka Mukhriz Mahathir memberi termuramah kepada media berbahasa Cina di Titigajah, Alor Setar
Dalam mesej khas kepada masyarakat Cina di Kedah, Dato’ Paduka Mukhriz Mahathir mengesa untuk mengekalkan perpaduan, hubungan dan kerjasama baik dan harmoni antara kaum demi kestabilan dan kemakmuran yang berterusan.
Dalam sessi temuramah khas dengan media Cina di Titigajah, Alor Setar petang ini, Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri itu menghargai sumbangan masyarakat Cina dalam aktiviti keusahawanan mereka yang menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan dan pengembangan ekonomi.
Beliau menegaskan bahawa masyarakat Cina di Kedah, mereka memainkan peranan mereka dengan baik sebagai anggota masyarakat majmuk dan tinggal dengan selesa dalam sikap saling menghormati dikalangan masyarakat majoriti Melayu.
“Masyarakat Cina Kedah tidak seperti di Pulau Pinang. Malah masyarakat Cina Kedah amat tidak selesa malah menolak chaunivism sebagaimana mereka buat di Pulau Pinang”.
Timbalan Pengerusi BN Kedah menjelaskan bahawa mereka percaya warga Kedah termasuk masyarakat Cina merasa tidak puas hati kerana kelemahan Kerajaan Negeri Kedah selama 5 tahun dibawah penguasaan PAS, telah nyata tiada berbuat apa apa baru. Lantas, tiada kesan penambahan aktiviti dan pertumbuhan ekonomi dirakamkan bagi negeri Kedah.
“Hasrat kita sekiranya memerintah semula ialah untuk memperbesarkan ‘Kek Ekonomi’, agar lebih banyak peluang untuk semua golongan mendapat menafaat darinya”.
Mukhriz mengupas soal ‘Janji yang dibuat’ oleh PAS, namun apabila mentadbir Negeri Kedah selama 5 tahun ianya tidak diaksanakan mereka.
“PAS menjanjikan macam macam tetapi macamana dia nak bayar untuk tunai janji ini semua? Contohnya, PAS berjanji untuk meningkatkan pendapatan Kerajaan Negeri sehingga RM640 juta. Tetapi setakat ini, pendapatan Kerajaan Kedah paling banyak pun tak sampai RM500 juta pun”.
Mukhriz mempersoalkan sekiranya pendapatan Kerajaan Negeri Kedah tidak berjaya ditingkatkan kerana tiada pelaburan baru atau peningkatan aktiviti ekonomi, bagaimana sumber dana untuk membiayai semua ‘Janji Janji Yang Dibuat’ ini.
“Tak kan dia nak berhutang lagi (untuk biaya bagi tunai semua janji). Sekarang ni (hutang Kerajaan Negeri Kedah) pun dah lebih RM 3 billion”.
Hakikatnya, pendapat Kerajaan Negeri Kedah meningkat semenjak PAS menguasai pentadbiran. Namun, ianya atas dua sumber sahaja; pendapatan dari hiburan dan balak. Apa yang lebih nyata, PAS tidak membuat sebarang perbelanjaan pembangunan. Ini merupakan tiada peningkatan dalam pertumbuhan ekonomi negeri Kedah.
- Economic analysis and commentary
on May 2, 2013 at 17:40 Comments (2)