FORMER MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker has defended his recent comments, saying they were not an attempt to “whitewash” PAS, but rather a call to save Barisan Nasional (BN) from being sidelined and replaced by what he described as an ‘UMDAP’ alliance.
“I’ve never sought to whitewash PAS. I merely pointed out that PAS Youth lately appears more decorous than UMNO Youth,” Ti wrote in a statement on Facebook on Sunday.
He was responding to Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly, Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who accused him of attempting to legitimise PAS through remarks made in a recent interview with Malaysiakin*.
“Since when did I whitewash PAS? Did I bring up the past, such as the time I strongly opposed a resolution at the UMNO General Assembly to shut down vernacular schools?” he asked.
“But what UMNO is trying to whitewash is DAP... that’s explicit and undeniable! Many UMNO members and grassroots are clearly uncomfortable with this overt attempt to cleanse DAP’s image,” he added.
Ti further claimed Puad had misrepresented his interview due to a lack of understanding of English or Bahasa Malaysia.
“The language I used in the interview was: ‘Former MCA Vice-President, Ti Lian Ker says UMNO Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh’s contemporaries in PAS seem more rational than him.’
“Abang Puad! Don’t be lazy—‘Google’ if you don’t understand. Look up the meaning of ‘contemporary’ and ‘seems’,” Ti wrote.
“Understand now, Abang Puad? Don’t overreact. Show maturity and stick to the topic,” he continued.
Ti also clarified that he had not been asked to comment on the Zara Qairina Mahathir case, which Puad had cited in his criticism. He said he supported many of the statements already made on the matter and saw no need to add further commentary.
“That was Puad’s issue, not mine,” he added. - August 17, 2025
