KUALA LUMPUR: If the opposition is strengthened, it essentially means that PAS is strengthened, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in his debate with DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng on Saturday.

“PAS will lead them and will definitely push for Islamic laws. Religion is a sensitive issue in a multi-racial country, especially when religion is made the core of a democracy.

"Be it in economy or education, it will raise negative issues,” said Dr Chua, in the debate entitled 'Chinese at a Crossroads - Is a Two-Party System Becoming a Two-Race System?' here Saturday.

He said the opposition always lied. “Their main objective is to wrest power, and the opposition now is very diferent from the past.

Dr Chua making a point during the debate

"When PAS becomes dominant, the opposition will say don't worry, it will all be good. This is the biggest political lie.

“Look at Kedah - men and women need to sit separately. No alcohol in Kelantan, no cinema in Bangi. This clearly shows DAP is a slave to PAS,” Dr Chua said.

“In DAP's history of 48 years it has only contested in Chinese majority areas, adopting the policy of using Chinese against the Chinese.

“The DAP wants to teach Umno a lesson but they dare not face Umno. In fact, they only challenge the Chinese based political party,” he said.

He said the DAP had incited hatred and split the people so that it could take over the government.

He said the Penang Chief Minister was giving false hope to the people that the Chinese could also be the heads of other states.

Lim Guan Eng gesturing during the debate.

He also said that the DAP was helping the PAS to be the “tai ko” to take over the states or federal government.

After the 2008 election, Dr Chua said the DAP had the highest number of state seats but the Mentris Besar were from PAS.

Dr Chua also chided Guan Eng for saying that he wanted zero opposition in Penang in the coming election.

“How can the country establish a two-party system when there is no opposition?” he asked.

“To me, the two party system is only a slogan DAP is using to grab power.”

He also condemned the opposition candidates who lost in the election of being missing from their respective constituencies as even their service office had disappeared after they lost.

As for Guan Eng, he told the packed ballroom that Barisan has been making contradictory statements, with MCA claiming that PAS has been making use of DAP.

“However, Umno says that it is DAP that is using PAS. We are not using each other, we are ready to be used by the people.

“We are not against the Malays, Chinese or Indians but corrupt government,” he added.

Guan Eng also said it was Barisan that was a two-race coalition.

“Barisan's concept has divided the country into Malays and non-Malays since Independence in 1957.

“If the opposition comes into power, we will take care of all Malaysians, regardless of race, as we are one family,” he added.

Guan Eng urged the people to be brave enough to stand up and realise the two party-system.

He explained that with a two-party system, the party that could not perform could step down and the other party could take over.

He also promised to abolish the Penang bridge toll, to increase the oil royalties to Sabah and Sarawak, and give RM1,000 to senior citizens annually. “We want to set up a policy state and not a police state,” he said.

Guan Eng also gave, as examples, his achievements in Penang including dual languages in road signages and zero corruption after 2008.

Guan Eng refuted allegations that the Penang state government did not allocate land to Chinese primary schools, saying that it had given money to all schools, including Chinese independent schools.

“We should not bow to fate and have the right to equality. We should not kneel and beg. We should be brave enough to stand and ask for it,” he said.

He said that he had told his daughter that he wanted to be their voice so that they could continue to stay in this country and need not to leave the country for a better life.

He said the unfairness faced by the Chinese was also faced by the non-Chinese.

“We should stand together to ensure our children's future,” he said.

Transcript of the opening remarks in the debate between MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng

(Before the debate, moderator Tan Ah Chai (CEO of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall), Dr Chua (CSL) and Lim (LGE) went up the stage to an enthusiastic round of applause. Both speakers drew lots to determine the first speaker. Dr Chua was to go first. The debate started with the Moderator's opening remarks and introduction of the two speakers).

CSL: Dear Speaker, distinguished Chief Minister of Penang, and members of the floor, good afternoon. In a democratic society, a two party system is a good idea if there are adequate check and balances in place. Unfortunately, after March 3 (in 2008), the opposition has been practising the politics of hate as it relentlessly attacked the government to gain power.

DAP is, now, not the DAP from the past. After it enters into a pact with PAS, PAS can control everything in Pakatan because they have the manpower and resources. So it would not be impossible for PAS to create a government that will implement the hudud law.

When PAS becomes dominant, the opposition will say don't worry, it will all be good. This is the biggest political lie. Look at Kedah - men and women need to sit separately. No alcohol in Kelantan, no cinema in Bangi. This clearly shows DAP is a slave to PAS.

We want to congratulate the DAP on misleading the rakyat and spreading propaganda, because when it comes to promoting and packaging their agenda, the DAP could get an Oscar for it. For 48 years, DAP was supported by the Chinese, and they have gained their support by "repackaging" their agenda. In DAP's history of 48 years it has only contested in Chinese majority areas, adopting the policy of using Chinese against the Chinese.

The DAP wants to teach Umno a lesson but they dare not face Umno. In fact, they only challenge the Chinese based political party.

DAP often says that its party has been given the Chief Minister's position in Penang. However, this also gives false hope to the Chinese that this could be possible in other states too. I would like to tell them that currently, in other states, it is not possible in this political climate.

DAP today has changed, and no longer is the DAP of the past. Today, in alliance with PAS and PKR, DAP is no longer championing the DAP agenda, but instead helping PAS and PKR to come into power.

In the last general election, for instance, DAP has won more seats than PAS and PKR combined. Logically, the "big brother" or Pakatan leader should be from DAP. But no, the "Big Brother" is still PKR and many mentris besar are from PAS.

In a multi-racial country, we also cannot accept Islamic rule. So, we have to oppose PKR because PAS' biggest supporter is PKR.

LGE: Dear Speaker, MCA president Dr Chua, members of the floor. I thank the organisers for organising this debate. Debate is an important element of democracy. That is why, I hope that debate will have a role to play in the democracy of this country, similar to the US and Europe.

I think what the Malaysians really want is not to see both of us debate. What they want to see is a debate between (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and (Pakatan leader) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The one who does not have the courage to come to the debate, cannot be a Prime Minister.

Dr Chua accused DAP as a party that is being used by PAS. But we often hear, Najib say that PAS, instead, is being used by DAP. I believe that this contradictory stand is a tactic often used by Barisan Nasional.

In Pakatan Rakyat, we do not use each other. We are just prepared to be used by the rakyat. We are not against the Malays or non-Malays, but we are against corruption and poor governance.

I have my doubts about this title because now we are already in a two-race system, because the Prime Minister himself is still talking about the Malays and non-Malays frequently. The Deputy Prime Minister has also said that for him it is "Malays first".

What we want is a two-party system where all Malaysians could be taken care of. Right now, we see that Umno takes care of the interests of the Malays, the MCA takes care of the Chinese, and the MIC takes care of the Indians. As for DAP, they couldn't figure out who we represent.

A two-party system will take care of everyone, and every Malaysian will be taken care of. We don't agree with the idea of Malay supremacy. What we want, is for the power to lie in the hands of the rakyat. I do not know which Umno leader will have the courage to champion Malaysian supremacy instead of Malay supremacy.

The Barisan National attacks the opposition front, accusing it of racism, as it continues to point out cases of corruption. However, corruption has no skin colour. Pakatan will ensure transparency by revealing the assets of its leader, conducting open tenders, taking corrupt officers - and not innocent citizens like Teoh Beng Hock - to task.

We could also say, if not for the support of 40% of Malays in Penang, I won't be standing here as chief minister. I hope the public will support us for a change of Government.

This then is the two-party system that we want - let the rakyat decide the government.

* Grab a copy of Sunday Star for more stories and a complete analysis on the debate between Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Lim Guan Eng.

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