Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi today accused former MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker of being one of the key figures pushing for MCA to withdraw from the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
Puad claimed several MCA leaders had been strongly advocating the party’s exit from BN, including Ti, whom he alleged had a personal political agenda, particularly to contest in the 16th General Election.
“With BN working with DAP, his chances of contesting are gone. But if he gets full backing from PAS, his chances of winning would be higher,” Puad said in a Facebook post.
“He seems confident PAS would sideline Gerakan in favour of MCA, which has a better structure.”
Ti, currently MCA’s Kuantan chief, served three terms as an assemblyman from 1995 to 2008. He did not contest the 2022 general election despite being offered the Indera Mahkota seat, saying he was better suited for Raub or Kuantan.
Yesterday, Ti said MCA must decide whether to remain in BN as Umno and DAP forge closer ties.
Responding to Puad, Ti said he has no desire for positions or political advancement, and his remarks were aimed at advocating fairness.
“When I described BN as ‘an empty shell waiting to be cracked’, it was in the context of opposing DAP, not Umno or BN. If Umno-DAP becomes an alliance, it signals DAP will replace MCA and MIC, leaving BN as an empty shell.Does Puad want BN to be replaced by ‘UmDAP’?” Ti said.
