The rise of the two political blocs had revived fears and suspicion based on the parties’ past, said MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker.
He welcomed a call for unity raised by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, in a speech at the national unity week celebrations in Kuching earlier today.
The King said Malaysians should uphold unity as the country’s major asset, and reduce differences by bridging the racial and religious gaps among them.
Ti said the King’s reminder to cooperate and cultivate positive thoughts and practices was apt.
He said there were grave implications in the rise of two political blocs dominated by PAS and DAP, which he described as “two divergent groups”. Their rise had come about as a result of factionalism in Umno and strategic political alliances made by the two parties, he said.
Their rise had “also inadvertently brought back the fears, suspicions and anxiety towards each other” as a result of past rhetoric, actions and posturing.
He said the two parties had postured themselves in the past as “representing the rural Malays extremism and the urban Chinese chauvinism”.
He added that Barisan Nasional’s downfall has also caused the independence-era ties between Umno, MCA and MIC to collapse, “giving way to more extremism”, which he said had also affected investor confidence.
PAS, with 49 seats, is the largest single party in the Dewan Rakyat, while DAP has 40.
They have constantly been at each other’s throats, with PAS leaders repeatedly describing DAP as “pro-communist” and “Islamophobic”. The two parties were previously allies in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, before parting ways in 2015.
The Islamic party and Bersatu (25 seats) are allies in Perikatan Nasional, which forms the opposition.
DAP has the most seats in Pakatan Harapan (81 seats) which forms the government in alliance with Barisan Nasional (30), GPS (23), GRS (6) and minor parties.
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