A former deputy minister has questioned the decision to hold a briefing on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) at the Umno headquarters.
Ti Lian Ker said he found it perplexing that a briefing on a government-related policy was not held at the relevant ministry instead.
“And why did it only involve MPs from DAP only? And only 30 of them? Shouldn’t it involve the other unity government component parties?” he said.
Speaking to FMT, the former deputy youth and sports minister said that in his experience briefings on government related policies would also involve the heads of the related department and agencies.
His remarks were in response to a visit by more than 30 MPs from DAP to Umno headquarters earlier this week, in what one leader described as a historic first for the two parties.
Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin said they were there for a briefing on TVET hosted by deputy prime minister and chairman of the national TVET council Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ti also defended his deputy president Mah Hang Soon who was criticised by Kampar MP Chong Zhemin of the DAP over comments on the visit.
Chong said Mah’s comments were vulgar, demeaning and aimed at sowing discord within the unity government, after Mah had depicted the MPs as “infatuated schoolgirls” who were “so aroused it shows”.
Ti said the DAP man’s comments reeked of hypocrisy, citing the DAP’s bitter rivalry with Umno in the past.
“DAP once thrived and succeeded in attacking Umno’s supposed excessiveness, but it is now bending over backwards to justify meetings in Umno’s offices,” Ti said. “And they have the audacity to mock MCA for calling out this inappropriateness.“
Ti said that in reality, DAP could not provide a proper answer when the party was called out by MCA. “Their only response is to belittle MCA and deflect from the issue.”
