Chua: Critically evaluate the Opposition’s performance

The Star, Sunday December 30, 2012

By LOSHANA K SHAGAR

Serious consideration: Dr Chua speaking with Hulu Langat Persatuan Pengurusan Rumah-Rumah Ibadat Kaum Tiong Hua chairman Lim Yew Peng (right) and its adviser Jeffrey Lee Ban Seng (left) at the association’s dinner in Hulu Langat.

 

KAJANG: The rights of non-Muslims in the country are slowly but surely being eroded and threatened by the Opposition.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who said this, urged the rakyat to critically evaluate the Opposition's performance since the 2008 general election.

“Our rights as non-Muslims are being threatened under the Opposition, such as the freedom to choose our food, clothes, entertainment and mix with people of the opposite gender,” he told reporters during a dinner organised by Chinese temples in Hulu Langat on Friday night.

Dr Chua cited the closure of the only pig abattoir in Kedah, PAS' objections to various concerts by international artistes and the ruling by the Kota Baru Municipal Council that prohibits hairdressers to attend to those of the opposite gender as examples.

“People say that MCA is talking about small issues, but we are actually addressing issues related to the fundamental rights of Malaysian citizens.

“It is a sad day that DAP only scolds MCA but is largely silent over the matter,” he said, adding that the Opposition's statement that their rulings do not affect non-Muslims is “the biggest lie in the world”.

Dr Chua also urged the Chinese community to think critically on who would become Prime Minister should they vote the Opposition into power.

“We cannot give the mandate to a party which cannot decide who is their candidate for Prime Minister.

“There will be no candidate from DAP, not even for the post of Deputy Prime Minister,” he said.

Dr Chua noted that the Government Transformation Programme implemented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was showing positive results.

“MCA will continue to expose PAS because its rule is bad for the country, both for Muslims and non-Muslims.

“Barisan Nasional may not be perfect but at least we have given the country a clear direction, while maintaining peace and stability and ensuring economic growth every year,” he said.

The Star, Thursday September 20, 2012

Service centre takes a leaf out of pizza delivery’s book

By THO XIN YI 

thoxinyi@thestar.com.my

TAKING a cue from fastfood delivery, the Kajang 1Malaysia Service Centre is introducing Ops Pizza to “deliver” its service.

The centre’s chief Loh Chew June said the team would meet senior citizens and the physically challenged at their homes or kopitiams to solve their problems.

“Our service centre is located on the second floor, so it might be inconvenient for these groups. We will go to them after they call us to make an appointment,” he said at the launch of the service centre at the MCA building in Jalan Sungai Chua, Kajang.

Regular sessions at kopitiams are also in the pipeline to meet the people directly.

Loh, a fomer Kajang municipal councillor, said he had been operating his service centre since 2003 at various locations, such as Sungai Long, Sungai Chua and the town centre.

At your service: Gan (third from left) launching the Kajang 1Malaysia Service Centre at the MCA building in Jalan Sungai Chua.

He moved into the present office six months ago and renamed the service centre 1Malaysia.

Loh said improving security was one of the key points in their agenda, through the newly launched Kajang 1Malaysia Voluntary Patrol Squad.

About 200 members recruited will be divided into teams to work with police and patrol residential areas at night.

“Self-defence and law workshops will be held for the volunteers,” he said.

Besides urging the state government and the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) to solve the flood problem in Kajang and to improve the road conditions, Loh said he would continue to highlight problems faced by the community.

MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu, who officiated at the event, advised the team to serve sincerely and be patient in dealing with the people.

He also condemned the act of vandalising service centres and spoke out against politics of destruction and hatred.

To contact the service centre, call its hotlines 018-255 9888, 018-277 9888 or 018-371 9888.

The Star, Sunday July 15, 2012

MCA sacrifices new building to make way for MRT project

KAJANG: The MCA has “sacrificed” a nearly completed four-storey building for the party here for the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line of the mass rapid transit (MRT) project.

This follows strong protest by residents and property owners to the initial alignment which would have led to the demolition of 28 shoplots along Jalan Besar in the town centre.

The protests came after the plan was put up by developers MRT Corp for public display last year.

In the re-alignment, MCA had agreed to demolish its RM1.5mil building, which would have housed the party's Hulu Langat division headquarters.

Work on the building started in 2010 and was said to be about 90% completed.

“It was not an easy decision to make but sacrifices need to be done for the sake of development,” said Selangor MCA chief Datuk Donald Lim at a public briefing by MRT Corp here yesterday.

MRT Corp is a government-linked company set up for the purpose of carrying out Malaysia's first integrated mass rapid transit railway.

Lim, who is Deputy Finance Minister, thanked the Hulu Langat MCA, saying if not for their sacrifice the 28 shoplots would have to be demolished.

He said the amount of compensation was still under discussion.

Division chairman Lee Ban Seng said construction stalled a few months ago after MRT Corp informed them the building had to go.

He said the division had yet to decide on a new location for its headquarters, adding that they were currently housed in a rented shoplot.

MRT Corp director of Stakeholders and Land Haris Fadzilah Hassan said MRT Corp had another re-alignment plan that would not affect the MCA building.

He added that, however, it would affect a housing area and at least 13 terrace houses would have to be acquired for the purpose.

“Traffic impact during construction would be less with this new alignment as it will avoid the town's main thoroughfare,” he said.

Under the MRT plan for the town there would be three stations, with “park and ride” facilities serving between here and Saujana Impian Kajang.

The Kajang town station will share the Kajang KTM Komuter station and passengers will be able to switch lines.

The 51km Sungai Buloh-Kajang line, which is the first under the MRT project, is expected to be fully operational by 2017.

It will have 31 stations and an estimated 88-minute end-to-end journey time.

The Star, Thursday July 5, 2012

Withdraw claim, Dong Zong told

HULU LANGAT: The Hulu Langat MCA division has passed a resolution calling on the United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) to withdraw allegations made against the party pertaining to Chinese education.

The division passed the resolution calling on Dong Zong deputy president Chow Siew Hong to withdraw this statement, at its AGM on Tuesday which was attended by 274 members.

Chow had earlier accused MCA of limiting the number of Chinese independent schools in the Education Act 1996, but the party has refuted this.

The division also condemned the state government for not fulfilling its promise to reduce quit rent by 20% in the state.

It also passed a resolution urging the Selangor government to immediately allocate land for Chinese schools and temples.

In his opening speech, division chief Lee Ban Seng called on members to serve and help the people.

“I believe we will regain power in Selangor and take back the Kajang state seat in the coming general election,” said Lee.

He said the MCA had done well in education-related issues and fought for two new Chinese schools in Sungai Long and Kajang.

“This will be an election full of challenges it is do or die for MCA. For the sake of Malaysia, your descendants and the Chinese community, please vote for Barisan Nasional,” he said.

Meanwhile, MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok said the 1MCA Medical Foundation, launched in December last year, had given out RM6.77mil to help 1,730 patients.

He said Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, established by MCA, had produced 26,789 graduates in 10 years.

MCA hold hi tea fellowship with Christian community

The MCA organised a hi tea fellowship with the Christian community in conjunction with the full visit by their president, Dato Seri Chua Soi Lek. Also present were other MCA central leadership. This was held at the Oriental Crystal Hotel on Friday, 15 June 2012 between 5.30 to 7.00 pm.

As there were no prior agenda given, it was more of a Q&A and pouring out of grouses. This type of meeting for me is not really productive with politicians as they will try to lecture you and also impart their wisdom, believes and experience to you. The standard answers will always be write to me or to so and so and copy to me. If there were requests for funds, also the same, write to me and I see how we can help.

All in all, there were about 100 or so people and what the got of this this fellowship, would be anybody's guess.

Until the next time, cheers.

Dato Seri Chua Soi Lek spent a whole in Kajang meeting various groups on Friday, 15 June. Not sure what was the intention and also finally what was the result. Sometimes less is more.

Until the next time, cheers.

The Star, Saturday June 16, 2012

Tri-lingual talent needed

KAJANG: The country needs more tri-lingual talent to increase its trade volume and realise its aspiration to become a high-income nation by 2020, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said.

“The trade volume between Malaysia and countries that use Chinese as their main language is about 20% of our total,” he said.

“That is why, logically, we need more people who have a good grasp of English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese,” he added.

Dr Chua said that in the 60s no one expected China to rise as an economic powerhouse, but nobody could deny that it was now the second economic superpower in the world.

Important discussion: Dr Chua and Dr Wee (second from left) talking to SJK (C) Yu Hua board of directors chairman Lee Hing (second from right). With them are Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Chua Tee Yong (right) and MCA Kajang division chief Jeffrey Lee Ban Seng.

 

Responding to the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia or Dong Zong's claims that MCA and the Government had agreed to limit the number of Chinese independent schools back in 1995, Dr Chua said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who was education minister then, had assured him that there was no such agreement.

“I believe that this is an attempt to damage the reputation of MCA,” he said.

On Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's statement that such an agreement was struck in the 60s, Dr Chua said he would consult former MCA leaders on the matter.

Later, Dr Chua and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong assured the board of directors and management personnel at the SJK (C) Yu Hua here that funds could be allocated from the Education Ministry's education fund once they received reports detailing the extent of damage caused by a fire on Tuesday.

Wee said the ministry was still waiting for the reports from its development division, the Works Department and the Fire and Rescue Department, which had conducted separate investigations hours after the fire.