KOTA KINABALU: Sabah United Chinese Chambers of Commerce (SUCCC) president Datuk Seri Panglima Gan Sau Wah hopes that the newly appointed Chinese ministers in the federal cabinet would safeguard and pursue the interests of the Chinese community.
He said the appointment of three new full ministers and three deputy ministers from MCA and Gerakan by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was good news to the Chinese community.
Gan said MCA’s earlier resolution not to join the cabinet when they failed to perform in the 13th General Election (GE13) was a loss to the Chinese community.
He added that MCA was one of the parties that joined forces with Umno and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) to fight for our country’s independence.
“The Chinese played a part in Malaysia’s independence. If we give up (on cabinet posts), it means that we are relinquishing our responsibility.
“An Umno leader once said even if MCA was only left with one member, that member must be a part of the government, especially the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, showing that Chinese YBs play an important role in the cabinet,” Gan said when commenting on the new ministerial line-up here yesterday.
Last week, Najib announced the appointment of MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai as Transport Minister, while Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong and MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong were appointed ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department.
At the same time, MCA vice-presidents Datuk Lee Chee Leong was appointed as Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Chua Tee Yong as Deputy Finance Minister and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun as Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister.
Gan said MCA is a political party that represented the Chinese community, and he hoped that the new ministers could address the issues faced by the Chinese community among the BN component parties.
He added that the number of MCA ministers in the cabinet was less important than the quality of the leaders.
On the other hand, Gan said Sabahan ministers from Gerakan fared well in their duties and was confident that with Mah being at the federal level, would strengthen the party’s position.
Gan believes that Gerakan could partner with MCA to pursue the interest of the Chinese community.
On the call by certain Chinese education groups to replace Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap as they lamented that she was not fluent in Mandarin and had failed to voice out the issues related to Chinese education, Gan said it was a matter of opinion.
Gan believes that Yap has the experience in the education sector, considering she was once a principal. But he also opined that having an understanding of Chinese culture and fluency in the Chinese mother tongue was vital in developing Chinese education.
“The issue whether she is suitable (as Deputy Education Minister) is a matter of opinion.”