KUALA LUMPUR – After coming under heavy criticism from fellow party members over a recent speech, DAP central committee member Ronnie Liu says those behind the “personal attacks” against him deserve disciplinary action.
Speaking at a book launch yesterday, Liu had said that DAP should not belittle or degrade itself to gain Malay support, claiming the party need not dilute its “Chinese-ness” just because of external criticisms.
He acknowledged that DAP needs to cooperate with Malay parties, but said it should not portray itself as a non-Chinese party.
Several DAP leaders have since aired their disagreement with Liu’s comments, with Damansara MP Tony Pua and Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh being the most critical of the Sg Pelek assemblyman.
Speaking to The Vibes, Liu said Pua’s branding of him as a Chinese chauvinist and Yeoh’s description of his statement as toxic would only open the door for extremists to lambast and vilify DAP.
“These individuals have personal prejudice against me, and I consider their statements a personal attack against me.
“But, what they are doing is causing disharmony in the party and giving ammunition to Malay extremists to attack the party. It’s not good for us,” he said today.
“If anything, these individuals (Pua and Yeoh) are the ones who deserve to be slapped with disciplinary action.”
Liu was asked if he was prepared to face action from the party over his latest remarks, having been referred to the disciplinary committee in 2019 over an article stating that Pakatan Harapan could form the government without Bersatu, which had been described as an act of sabotage to destabilise PH.
How can you call Ronnie Liu a chauvinist? I am a colour-blind person!
Then, Liu was let off the hook after the committee accepted his explanation over his write-up, which also harshly criticised Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Asked why he believes he is being personally attacked, Liu said it had to do with his political stand against certain individuals, such as Dr Mahathir.
“This is someone whom they like very much. I recently said we should not work with Dr Mahathir and his party Pejuang, but people like Hannah still want to. I welcome people who don’t welcome my views, but don’t attack my personality.
“How can you call Ronnie Liu a chauvinist? I am a colour-blind person!” he said.
On what he meant by his statement that the Chinese-ness in DAP is being diluted, Liu recalled how he was condemned by certain quarters within the party when he merely slammed the organisation of the Malay Dignity Congress in 2019, which was attended and approved by Dr Mahathir.
“My question then was, should it be a Malaysia Dignity Congress instead? People keep talking about the feelings of the Malays – then what about the Chinese? When I questioned, many were very unhappy.”
Liu said instead of diluting the Chinese-ness in DAP, the party should instead increase its Malaysia-ness by recruiting more non-Chinese members and making them election candidates, provided it is with merit.
“Also, when we are commenting on any issues, it must not be from the perspective of race, but Malaysia as a whole.” – The Vibes, April 13, 2021
