PETALING JAYA: In an emotional speech, outgoing MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai reminded that the party had always fought on behalf of the community and that it will continue to do so, even though it is no longer part of the government.
He stressed that MCA had placed national interests above all else in moves such as opposing the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355). The party had done so because they wanted to safeguard secular-based multi-culturalism and the party would never abandon its principles even if it meant losing votes.
“The community is facing a tough and challenging future, I have this to say: When you realise that nobody in the ruling coalition is taking Chinese rights and dignity seriously anymore, please do not forget, you still have MCA,“ Liow said during his speech at the party’s 65th annual general assembly.
He urged party members to fully support the party’s new president, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, who is also its sole surviving MP.
He said the party needs to learn from past experiences and ensure its reforms will be accepted by the community in the hopes that this will translate into votes during the next general election
Echoing a popular phrase, Liow said the time had come to make the MCA great again, and to bring the party back to the political mainstream.
It was not all about unity as he also launched an attack on rivals DAP by claiming that they had failed to fulfill its election promises. He said DAP’s actions and inactions on various issues was typical of its “change of position, change of mind-set” approach.
Liow ended by thanking his mentors, for providing him with the opportunity to participate in politics.
