Stop playing with fire, PAS told

Stop playing with fire, PAS told by Ng Kee Seng THE SUN KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting yesterday shot back at PAS for accusing the party of being inspired by communists. "PAS should stop playing with fire and stop the unsubstantiated accusations hurled at us," Ong said, adding that he is not leading a party of communists. He said the MCA's cadre training concept, which PAS said was inspired by the Chinese Communist Party, has been around for umpteen years and "it is our internal affair". "We are as committed as ever to the promotion of national unity and nationbuilding. We have never compromised (on the dual promotion)," he added. Speaking after chairing his first presidential council meeting since the Aug 20 party elections, Ong said: "There will be no use of the ideologies of others. We already have our objectives and ideologies. "Cadre training is not a new party concept. Previously, training programmes were organised and conducted in an ad hoc manner. "We now want to turn this concept into a more organised programme and mechanism, featuring physical training centres located at our existing premises all over the country. The trainers can be senior party leaders, professionals from local think-tanks and universities, or even the National Service, depending on the curriculum. "We believe such an institute can help provide training on current affairs as well as political and social elements to nurture quality leaders. This may also attract new members and help them and the public better understand us." Newly appointed secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan and organising secretary Datuk Hon Choon Kim had left for China last week to visit schools run by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In a Nanyang Siang Pau report on Sept 2, Ka Chuan had said the study would cover the CCP schools and the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan). PAS vice-president Husam Musa followed up on this and told Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin to check on the MCA's plan to set up a CCP-inspired political institute, instead of persecuting the DAP over a Merdeka day article posted on the DAP website. The article by DAP international secretary and NGO bureau chief Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew questioned the identity of the real fighters for Malayan independence, highlighting the role of Umno and the defunct Communist Party of Malaya in fighting British colonialists. To date, two police reports have been lodged against Liu.