By Boo Su-Lyn The Malaysian Insider Aug 06, 2011
PUCHONG, Aug 6 — The MCA has no right to denounce the DAP over its purported silence on the state religious Islamic authorities’ raid on a church as the Chinese party has been powerless when non-Muslims’ rights are threatened, Teresa Kok said today.
The Selangor DAP chief pointed out that her party has expressed its “dissatisfaction” with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department’s (Jais) Wednesday late-night raid on Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC).
“MCA is a party that is least qualified to talk about political courage,” Kok told reporters today.
“Umno has done so much nonsense against MCA and the non-Malay community, yet MCA still sticks as Umno’s partner,” added the Seputeh MP.
The Star reported today MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek challenging the DAP to show political courage by condemning the raid.
Kok said, however, that the MCA banned its members from joining the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally after the polls watchdog was outlawed, despite knowing that people were unhappy with the “unfair” electoral system.
“Whatever Umno announces, they just support and follow all the way,” she said.
Kok also pointed out that DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang has decried the Jais raid and called it “deplorable”.
Jais enforcement officers swooped in on a dinner function at DUMC late Wednesday night without a warrant based on an unspecified complaint, bringing with them a team of policemen.
Between 100 and 120 people, including several Muslims, attended the non-religious event to celebrate NGO Harapan Komuniti’s success in helping women, children, HIV/AIDS sufferers and victims of natural disasters.
Kok stressed that she opposed the raid, repeating her remarks — which she made before the Selangor government issued a gag order on state executive councillors — that were reported in Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily today.
“Jais shouldn’t just raid non-Muslim places of worship because this is a violation of freedom of assembly and freedom of belief,” said the senior state executive councillor.
She also lambasted her colleague, Datuk Hasan Ali, for defending the raid. “He shouldn’t have issued a statement defending Jais that contravened the state government’s stand,” said Kok, as quoted in Sin Chew Daily.
Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said on Thursday that he regretted the incident and asked Jais to justify its raid.