Ex-MCA veep tells DAP not to make same 'mistake' of past govt politicians

Ex-MCA veep tells DAP not to make same 'mistake' of past govt politicians


Published: Mar 15, 2025 2:35 PM
Updated: 5:35 PM


Summary

• Former MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker reminds DAP not to make the same mistake of past politicians in government who safeguard their own interests above serving the people.

• The former senator said the DAP should not name new leaders at their party election tomorrow just to appease Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim or Umno, and forget their own party agenda.

A former MCA vice-president has weighed in with a reminder ahead of the DAP party election tomorrow, for its partner in government not to make the same mistakes of politicians under previous administrations.

Specifically, MCA veteran Ti Lian Ker said the "mistake" would be to appoint a new generation of party officers solely to appease Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim or Umno.

"DAP should not commit the same mistakes of past politicians in the government of posturing to please and appease the prime minister and the majority purely to secure and safeguard their roles as 'Mandarins' in the government," Ti (above) told Malaysiakini.

The term "Mandarins" refers to officers in the imperial China civil service, but Ti said there were groups more focused on creating their own "small kingdoms" rather than serving the people.

"They (DAP) should not create a 'comfort zone' for themselves and abandon their duties, responsibilities and promises to the people they represent.

"DAP cannot run away from their origins and responsibilities," said Ti.

‘Lim still needed’

Ti said this in expressing support for DAP veteran Teng Chang Kim's reported view that DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng is still needed among the party's Central Executive Committee.

"I support Teng’s view that Lim still needed to be the voice for the minorities especially Indians, Chinese of which DAP had been vocal since their formation.

"The promise of a level playing field and a more Malaysian Malaysia cannot be conveniently forgotten or 'whitewashed' by removing former leaders and replacing them with a new generation of officials or 'Mandarins' to appease PMX (Anwar) or Umno," said the former senator.

DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng

Among others, Ti named Lim, his father and party veteran Lim Kit Siang, as well as the late Karpal Singh, as DAP's "flag carriers" who had captured the imaginations of the Chinese and Indian voters, resulting in a shift of popular support from MCA and MIC.

Earlier today, Lim dismissed speculations that he would withdraw his name from the list of 70 candidates vying for 30 CEC positions.