Nazri mocks MCA after the party criticises him over controversial speech.
MCA is calling for Nazri Aziz’s head to roll after the Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general was reported as calling for the closure of Chinese and Tamil schools.
MCA secretary-general Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said Nazri was an enemy of BN and insisted that a major reason why BN has fallen to such lows was the arrogance of leaders such as Nazri.
Chew pointed out that BN had been formed by Umno, MCA and MIC that were later joined by another 10 parties, all of which have since abandoned it.
“In brief, BN does not belong to Umno alone; it is the result of a collective struggle by Umno, MCA, and MIC. It is (also) not the absolute property of Nazri Aziz.”
“If there is no stern action taken by Umno or BN leaders and Nazri still remains as BN secretary-general after this, it will surely affect the close ties between Umno, MCA, and MIC.
“Nazri can’t escape from being sacked of his position in BN,” Chew said in a statement.
Nazri has denied wanting vernacular schools to be closed and accused the media of misquoting him.
He explained that his remarks were meant to show that if Malay privileges were disputed, so too would the privileges of non-Malays be disputed, including the right to have vernacular schools.
From his speech on Saturday night, Malaysiakini reported Nazri as warning the non-Malays against questioning Malay special privileges or risk compromising on vernacular schools.
Despite the denial, Chew said Nazri was “rude, egotistical, and immature.”
She recounted incidents she considered evidence of Nazri’s haughtiness, such as the latter’s attack on tycoon Robert Kuok prior to the general election.
Aside from refusing to apologise for insulting Kuok, she said the Umno leader also attended a Chinese New Year celebration wearing black – an inauspicious colour for the Chinese – which Chew said further upset the community that was already pulling away from BN.
She then argued that only the BN supreme council – which has not convened since before the general election – was the only venue to decide MCA’s future in the coalition.
Until then, however, Chew insisted that Nazri’s actions were intolerable.
She added that Nazri’s tendency to make provocative and racist remarks was part of why the people did not support BN.
Chew urged Umno to take action against him and not let one rotten apple spoil the whole barrel.
Yesterday, Nazri asked MCA why it was still in the BN after its previous criticisms of the coalition and resolution to seek its dissolution.
This came after MCA condemned his recent speech during the Semenyih by-election campaign, in which he remarked that top government posts should not be held by non-Malays and vernacular schools could be axed if Malay special privileges were challenged.
“Who said we are a coalition? I thought they (MCA) want to dissolve BN. They don’t even want to wear the blue shirt (anymore).
“[…] In the last (by-election) in Balakong, they stood as MCA, not BN. So, I think constructively, they are not BN lah,” he told a press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre.
Elaborating, Nazri said he “did not care” what MCA had to say about his speech.
MCA Youth chief Nicole Wong previously branded Nazri as a “rude, foolish and crazy” politician, and accused him of helping Harapan’s campaign through his comments.
Pressed repeatedly on MCA’s official status in BN, Nazri answered that the coalition had not had a supreme council meeting since May 9 last year and thus, he “did not know”.
“[…] There is no urgency to call for the (BN supreme council) meeting because we have more urgent problems ahead of us. The Semenyih by-election and the Rantau by-election, these are more important issues than MCA.
“And for me, I think if they want to leave, just leave. Look at Gerakan, they did not scold Umno (as being) the cause of our defeat and all that.
“Leave lah,” he said.
Earlier reports:
Feb 25, Suhakam Denounces Nazri for “Inciting Racial Hatred”
Feb 25, Cops Quiz Nazri Aziz over ‘Seditious’ Speech
Feb 25, Nazri Playing Race Card, Should be Probed for Sedition