Penang MCA leader seated in public gallery comes under attack

A local MCA leader came under attack in the state assembly today for questioning Penang government's higher allocation for Islamic affairs, as he often said the move neglected the Chinese community. 

The Dewan descended into a brief chaos when all eyes turned to state MCA chairperson Tan Teik Cheng who was seated in the public gallery during the morning session.

Accompanying Tan were 10 other state MCA leaders who were present in the state assembly for a watching brief.

Chaos ensued after state opposition leader Jahara Hamid (BN-Telok Ayer Tawar) remarked that the federal government had spent RM462.1 million on Islamic affairs in Penang from 2008 to 2017.

Comparing this to the RM400 million allocated by Pakatan Harapan since 2008, Jahara lamented that BN was often slammed for spending less during their rule.

This prompted Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Padang Kota) to thank the BN administration for its funds for Islamic affairs, saying "but please ask your state MCA chief (Tan) who claimed that we gave too much for Islamic affairs".

"Come on, please ask him why he is saying that,” Chow said, while Pakatan representatives echoed his query, oblivious to Tan's presence in the gallery.

Tan was seen smirking away at the remark, enjoying the public attention that was unknowingly bestowed on him.

His comrades on the Umno bench obviously did not share his views as they started arguing with their Pakatan counterparts, who in turn, began to jeer at Tan.

Speaker Law Choo Kiang finally intervened, ordering the assemblypersons to rein themselves in.

However, after several speeches, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Air Putih) jumped on the bandwagon, saying the Penang government supported Islamic affairs, expressing hope that the BN bench can appreciate its efforts.

“Can you ask MCA to cut down on their chauvinistic and racist politics? We have been called names, vulgar words hurled at me and I was even cursed," he said.

Lim was addressing Shariful Mohd Yusof (BN-Bertam) after interjecting him during his speech earlier.

“MCA has called us anti-Chinese and anti-non-Muslim. Please ask MCA to stop this kind of behaviour. Would you do that, Bertam?

"Do you agree or not agree that they are racist?” he asked but Shariful refused to comment, saying he was merely a first-term representative.

Lim laughed and said: "I will let you go this time since since you’re a first-term assemblyperson."

But this did not stop RSN Rayer (DAP-Seri Delima) from expressing his view that Lim should ignore MCA.

"They are the Malaysian Confused Association," he remarked, drawing laughter from the Pakatan bench.

Tan was amused by all the attention on him, and later told reporters that he welcomed the attacks as "it makes me a stronger nemesis to the Penang government".- Mkini