'DAP prevents BN from becoming dominant again' - Lian Ker
SHAH ALAM - Barisan Nasional (BN) will not regain its dominance if the coalition chooses to continue its cooperation with DAP in the 16th General Election (GE16).
Central MCA Committee Member Datuk Ti Lian Ker also believed that BN’s strength would further diminish if the coalition does not maintain the traditional spirit of seat-sharing in elections as practised in the past.
He said that BN’s cohesion has always been based on the spirit of compromise and sacrifice among Umno, MIC, MCA and the Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) for the sake of its component partners.
However, he personally does not believe that DAP and Pakatan Harapan (PH) could inherit the camaraderie spirit exhibited by BN’s component parties.
This is because DAP had previously insisted on retaining the status quo of seats they won in several election series involving the seats they held.
"BN’s 50th anniversary is a time for us to remember that BN’s founding principles are for the country’s future and not just to stay in power even if it means bowing to DAP today.
"DAP needs to prove their sincerity in cooperating with BN, not merely to become a government coalition and simply using Umno to gain Malay votes.
"All component parties in BN need to accept the reality that our defeat in GE15 was because DAP and PH continually played on the sentiment that BN Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would become Prime Minister if people voted for BN," he said.
Elaborating further, Ti, who is also a former MCA vice president, questioned BN’s desire to become dominant again if DAP continues to be disrespectful by sidelining the interests of the coalition's component parties.
He added that Umno is merely dreaming of seeing BN regain dominance if DAP continues to belittle the coalition's component parties.
"As long as DAP does not openly apologise to MCA, MCA grassroots will not stand idly by or trust DAP, which has hidden political agendas.
"This sentiment is also felt by the Malay community, most of whom are still uncomfortable with DAP's growing power and influence in the Madani Government," he said.
