PONTIAN: A Member of Parliament who is not able to look after the affairs of his voters regardless of their racial and religious backgrounds does not deserve a seat in the Dewan Rakyat, said MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
Chong, referring to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s statement last night, also claimed that it was “racist” in nature.
Lim in a ceramah yesterday had said that Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong would assist Pakatan Harapan Tanjung Piai candidate Karmaine Sardini woo support from the Chinese community.
“What is this? Why can’t an MP take care of the Chinese community? Why do they have to appoint a Chinese to take care of other Chinese?” he addressed a 400-strong crowd here today.
“They said they are not racist, that PH is for all, but now they are trying to fish for votes by appointing a Chinese deputy minister to look after the Chinese community in Tanjung Piai.
“Is he saying that Karmaine can’t take care of the Chinese there?
“(Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Seri Dr) Wee Jeck Seng can take care of everyone. Stop being racist and old fashioned,” he said.
In his speech last night, Lim said Liew, who is also the Johor DAP chairman, could lend a hand and help Karmaine should there be any language problem.
“If there is anything, you can ask Chin Tong and he can help. Chin Tong can call me directly on the phone,” Lim told a ceramah in Pekan Nanas yesterday.
The Tanjung Piai by-election will be held on Nov 16 while early voting is on Nov 12 where it will see a six-cornered fight.
Those contesting for the seat aside from Karmaine and Wee are Wendy Subramaniam (Gerakan), Datuk Dr Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz (Berjasa) and two independent candidates, Dr Ang Chuan Lock and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghani.